(Header photo credit: DA Region 7 Facebook page)

CEBU CITY, Cebu, Feb. 22 (PIA) --The Regional Task Force on El Niño in Central Visayas is ramping up their mitigation efforts to ease the impact of the dry spell in the region.

During the 2nd Regional Task Force El Nino Meeting led by the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) member agencies of the regional task force gave updates on their ongoing measures in response to El Niño.

The task force is focused on five key areas: food security, health security, energy security, water security, and public security.

For health security, the Department of Health reported that all health facilities in the region are already on “code white alert,” which means they are prepared to deliver health and emergency response services during eventualities caused by the effects of El Niño.

In energy security, the Department of Energy (DOE) has implemented interventions to ensure that there will be sufficient power supply in the region.

DOE is also promoting the practice of energy efficiency measures among public and private establishments.

In food security, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has set in place the buffer stocking of agricultural inputs such as rice and corn to ensure the supply of these crops.

DA has also strengthened its coordination with the local government units in the conduct of information, education, and communication (IEC) campaigns and assessing the situation in vulnerable areas.

In water security, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources continues to implement water conservation measures, directing establishments to reduce activities that consume large amounts of water.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (PDRRMOs) in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor provinces have also amplified their own El Niño action plans.

The provincial task forces on El Niño task force will also be convened to tackle their preparations and action plans at the local level.

“We have to gather more information, particularly in terms of the effects of El Niño on our LGUs. We need to have strong coordination to alleviate the impacts of El Niño, and it will be more effective if we function as a task force so that the reporting of data will be streamlined and aligned with the mandate of the national task force,” said Engr. Rhafael Luche of OCD-7 who presided over the meeting.

The El Niño phenomenon will prevail for the next few months.

All provinces in Central Visayas are forecasted to experience drought by the end of May, according to the El Niño monitoring and advisory provided by PAGASA Visayas. (RGC/PIA7 Cebu)