CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- The local government here has formed a city-level task force (TF) to address the effects of the El Niño phenomenon.
In a statement on Monday, City Mayor Rolando Uy said he issued Executive Order 127-2024 to gather the various City Hall departments to establish measures to preempt damage brought by prolonged dry spell.
Leading the Task Force will be Nick Jabagat, chief of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Department, along with the nine other City Hall department heads.
One of the task force's major mandates is to launch the El Niño online platform that will serve as a data repository that will include interactive maps for quick response.
The city's TF on El Niño was complementary to the national government's own task force, which oversees agencies providing actions in time for a longer dry season, especially in the area of agriculture.
In Northern Mindanao, the first quarter DRRM full council meeting attended by regional government agencies last week concluded with the El Niño regional organization updates and enhanced guidelines on the financing support from the national DRRM fund, including the Quick Response Fund.
The non-government organization Council for Climate and Conflict Action also joined various stakeholders in preparing for the dire El Niño this year through its Early Response Network.
The group said it has already monitored the drying of wells and water sources in many villages and municipalities in Mindanao, including the Bangsamoro region and parts of Northern Mindanao. (PNA)
