Lawmaker wants orders vs El Niño

MANILA, Philippines — A veteran lawmaker yesterday urged President Marcos to issue an official directive for specific government agencies to initiate measures that will mitigate the impact of El Niño in the country.

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, who chairs the House technical working group on measures creating a Department of Water Resources, said it would be best for Marcos to issue an executive order directing concerned government agencies to spearhead measures to address the ongoing El Niño weather phenomenon, which could stretch up to 2024 and cause a “national water crisis.”

“I commend PBBM for the executive order creating the apex body on water security. The first step is to acknowledge the problem, which he has by being clear about the existence of a water crisis. Now, it is time to issue a related directive to mitigate the impacts of El Nino,” he said.

As chair of the technical working group, Salceda recommended several measures for adaptation, which include the development of a “small scale short gestation period irrigation system.”

This measure involves the National Irrigation Authority, provincial engineering office and the Department of Agriculture. If done, this will allegedly accelerate the “shallow tube well” irrigation development in selected areas.

“Fasttrack the construction of small water impounding projects. Remind barangays that they have an obligation to set up rainwater catchment facilities through the Department of the Interior and Local Government,” Salceda said.

He also sought the “formulation and implementation of agricultural measures for mitigating the adverse effects of droughts, including measures designed to increase cropping intensity, to optimize unit area productivity and aimed at decreasing water duty and diversifying cropping system.”