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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Restore irrigation systems for El Niño use—Marcos

Restore irrigation systems for El Niño use—Marcos

Published Dec 13, 2023 06:37 am

It is imperative to continue restoring irrigation systems in the country, President Marcos said amid looming El Niño effects until the second quarter of next year.

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President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Photo courtesy of PPA Pool/Rene H. Dilan)

"To ensure the productive and efficient use of our agricultural lands, it is imperative that we continue restoring and maintaining our irrigation systems," Marcos said on Wednesday, Dec. 13, as he led the turnover of P776 million worth of excavators in Olongapo, Zambales.

He stressed that irrigation is very important when it comes to farming, which is crucial in achieving food sufficiency.

Next to this, he added, is the assistance and processing from the government.

"Lahat ng ating mga hinahanda para dalhin ang produkto sa merkado. Kaya’t ito na muna. Inuuna natin ang production at alam natin ang pinakamahalagang bahagi na para pagandahin ang ating ani ay ang mas magandang patubig (We are preparing everything to bring the products to the market. So we are doing this first. We are prioritizing production and we recognize that irrigation systems are the most important aspect to improve our production)," Marcos said.

The President also urged the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to maximize the full potential of the equipment to assist farmers in order to increase their yields and incomes, aside from providing sufficient and affordable food.

He also recognized that restoring the irrigation systems in the country is an "urgent subject" as El Niño is forecasted to persist until the end of May next year.

"[T]his has become a particularly urgent subject in the face of what is being forecast as an El Niño season at least for the first quarter of 2024," Marcos said.

He likewise called on the Department of Agriculture (DA) and NIA to assess the farmers’ needs, to accelerate construction of irrigation facilities from existing water sources.

"We must be prepared to address the effects of El Niño. We have instructed — we have included in this effort the Department of National Defense, the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources), and the Department of Agriculture para pag-aralan lahat ng ating kayang gawin upang mapaghandaan ang mga magiging hamon pagdating nga ng tagtuyot (to study everything we can do to prepare against drought)," Marcos said.

On Tuesday, Marcos ordered the creation of a task force to mitigate the effects of El Niño.

The task force will be led by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) under the Office of the President.

Related Tags

IRRIGATION SYSTEM EL NINO President Marcos
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