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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Assure water supply vs. El Niño threat --- PBBM

Assure water supply vs. El Niño threat --- PBBM

Published Apr 20, 2023 09:57 am
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. called on the government to prioritize addressing water management issues amid the impending drought in the country.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Photo courtesy of PCO)
Marcos issued a [statement](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=626817806137616&set=pb.100064282075832.-2207520000.&type=3) on Thursday, April 20, calling for "urgent and collaborative" action on water management. "It is imperative that we prioritize our water management efforts in light of the impending El Niño. While energy may be reasonable, we must still take precautions to meet the needs of our people," Marcos said. The President stressed that the government must focus on minimizing the effects of El Niño on agriculture, healthcare, and energy. "We must focus on mitigating the effects of El Niño on agriculture, healthcare, and energy through innovative approaches," he said. The chief executive further said that "the access to water for farmers is essential." On Tuesday, National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Acting Administrator Eduardo Guillen said the country would need P2 trillion to irrigate some 1.2-million hectares of irrigable areas. Guillen stressed the need for more investments in irrigation in order to address the potential adverse impacts of El Niño in the country’s agricultural sector. [READ MORE: PH needs P2 trillion to mitigate El Niño impact — NIA](https://mb.com.ph/2023/4/18/ph-needs-p2-trillion-to-mitigate-el-nino-impact-nia)

'Prepare for potential health issues'

Marcos also gave a warning that health issues might arise due to the weather phenomenon. He directed the Department of Health (DOH) to come up with strategies to prevent possible health issues the impending drought might cause. "[W]e must prepare for potential health issues that may arise due to heat and lack of water. The DOH must develop strategies to ensure the health and resilience of our people," Marcos said. On Wednesday, the DOH stated that the country must be ready against various health problems such as food and waterborne illnesses due to lack of water supply amid El Niño which is also associated with heat stress, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), there is an 80 percent probability that El Niño may develop by June until the last quarter of this year. [READ MORE: DOH warns vs possible health problems during El Niño](https://mb.com.ph/2023/4/19/doh-warns-vs-possible-health-problems-during-el-nino)

Related Tags

Bongbong Marcos Department of Health (DOH) water management El Niño President Marcos
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