DAGUPAN CITY – The El Niño Task Force has been activated here to cushion the impact of El Niño to agriculture and ultimately to the lives of the people.
Mayor Belen Fernandez signed Executive Order No. 10 on Wednesday, May 10, for the activation of the task force.
The task force will be composed of the head and chief of city agriculture, city health office, Dagupan Philippine National Police, PAGASA weather station, market division, president of refilling station, and city veterinarian, among others.
Fernandez said the city's inter-agency task force will formulate and implement measures to mitigate the effects of El Niño.
The city government, citing reports of PAGASA, said that El Niño will likely develop in July and may persist until next year.
The mayor said she believes that this will bring a serious threat to the city's overall social and economic activities.
On Wednesday, she encouraged every Dagupeño to take the necessary steps to prepare.
"Malaki po ang inyong parte sa solusyong ito, kaya't magtulungan po tayo (You have a big role in the solution, so let us help each other),” she said.
Fernandez cited the possible adverse impacts which include the disruption of food production and essential services, damage to property, environment, loss of livelihood opportunities (agribusiness), and health.