Philippine President to Issue Executive Order for El Niño Response Measures
MANILA: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is set to issue an executive order focusing on immediate governmental measures to counteract the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, announced Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. this Tuesday.
According to Philippines News Agency, The decision to issue the executive order emerged during the 15th Cabinet meeting convened by President Marcos at Malacañan Palace, as detailed by Teodoro during a Palace briefing. “The President will issue an executive order for early preparation and rapid resolution, enabling swift interventions and continuous monitoring to mitigate the impacts of El Niño,” Teodoro stated. He emphasized the government’s readiness for an extended El Niño scenario to ensure service continuity and due care, assuring that the executive order would be released promptly.
Teodoro also mentioned the reactivation and reorganization of the El Niño Task Force as part of the mitigation strategies. Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr., who is set to co-chair the task force, joined the briefing and provided insights into the expected timeline and impact of the El Niño. Solidum indicated that the peak of the drought conditions is anticipated in April 2024, with a forecast of “normal to slightly below normal” rainfall by May or June 2024. He noted that drought may affect 63 provinces, while a dry spell might impact 12 provinces by April next year.
President Marcos has underscored the importance of maintaining stable water and power supplies during the El Niño period. In line with this, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga revealed the President’s directive to ensure that water-related infrastructure projects serve multiple purposes. Yulo-Loyzaga highlighted the government’s collaboration with the private sector in implementing these projects, stressing the significance of availability, access, and affordability in water security. “The President’s instruction is to have our infrastructure investments be multipurpose, so that one investment can generate multiple values, whether for flood control, irrigation, or water supply and distribution,” she added.
In preparation for the El Niño phenomenon, Teodoro also disclosed that approximately 23 new committed power projects and three battery energy storage systems are scheduled to be operational in the first quarter of 2024. He noted ongoing efforts in inventory development and coordination of critical facilities.