SURIGAO DEL SUR -- Surigao del Sur First District Representative Romeo Momo Sr., on Sunday, April 23, expressed his full support for the creation of an El Niño team as directed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to address the looming water shortage and improve public infrastructure to help mitigate the impact of the drought.

An engineer by profession, former undersecretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and now chair of the House Committee on Public Works and Highways, Momo believes that the President’s plan to upgrade the country’s flood control and water management by building impounding dams, small river impounding projects, and high dams is the “right move forward.”

“It is commendable that the President has put forth clear instructions and plans on how we will deal with the impact of El Niño because this team would be able to give our problems with depleting water resources the attention it needs,” he said.

“It is high time that an administration prioritizes the construction of critical infrastructure that would provide solutions to not only the effects of El Niño but to other weather disturbances and climate change as well,” Momo added.

Noting that a well-constructed plan for dealing with El Niño would also benefit the future, the lawmaker stressed the role of “comprehensive engineering solutions” that would last across generations. This includes the creation of dams, catch basins, warning systems, levees, and seawalls, among others.

Last week, Marcos ordered the creation of a government team that would focus on mitigating the impact of the looming El Niño phenomenon, which is expected to hit from July to September this year and to last until 2024. The President wanted a whole-of-government approach so the country would have “protocol-based and scientific” long-term processes. He also wants a public awareness campaign to urge the public to conserve water.

Momo agreed that such directives are necessary in order to prepare the government and the public for the devastating impact of El Niño on agriculture, the marine environment, the economy, and tourism.

“It is the right move forward. This is not new to the Philippines. Time and again, we have seen how our communities have suffered because we were never prepared enough when the dry and wet seasons come. Today, we have an administration willing to face that painful truth. We should give it our full support,” the lawmaker furthered. (Office of the 1st Congressional District/PIA-Surigao del Sur)