Our prayers have been answered: It’s been raining in Manila — and many parts of the Philippines the past few days.
We are in the “weak El Niño” stage, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, or simply PAGASA, announced last Monday, 13 May 2024; and added that the prolonged dry spell may end by June.
The local weather bureau earlier said that the worst is over in terms of scorching temperature and we expect the onset of the rainy season to begin soon.
Having experienced firsthand the harsh effects of a severe El Niño during the first quarter of the year, we must prepare our people and our communities, especially the vulnerable, to the impending shift to an intensified La Niña.
During an event in Zamboanga City last week, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. called on our local government units to prepare for the heavy rainfall with the looming La Niña.
La Niña in the Philippines is nothing new. The Department of Agriculture said that this year’s La Niña would be the 17th, if ever.
Unlike earthquakes which we cannot predict when it would strike, we can track and prepare for storms and tropical cyclones.
There are existing data on high-risk areas, the so-called geo-hazard maps. Government officials must review them and ensure that programs and protocols would be set in place in case of storm surges, massive flooding, land and mudslides.
The government must likewise check on the conditions of current infrastructure, such as dams, watersheds, and flood control projects.
Further, the government must continuously build the resilience of the agriculture sector in view of extreme weather challenges. It is noteworthy to mention that agricultural production growth was flat during the first quarter of the year amid the El Niño phenomenon.
Ensuring food security is not simply a catchphrase but an immediate concern that must be decisively addressed.
By failing to prepare, we have been told many times, you are preparing to fail.
Disaster preparedness is therefore the key.
Let us all be one in mitigating the risks and safeguarding communities. It is a responsibility we all share.
