Govt readies measures against La Niña

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) on Saturday said it would employ various interventions in anticipation of the impact of the La Niña phenomenon.

In a news forum in Quezon City, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the interventions included water management and distribution of flood-tolerant rice varieties.

"We are now preparing for La Niña. There's only a La Niña watch. La Niña has not started yet; it is expected in the last quarter," de Mesa said.

De Mesa said a major intervention for La Niña, where above-normal rainfall was expected, would be water management.

He said the agency through the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) would also ensure that irrigation systems were up and running.

"So, we ensure through NIA and then our regional field offices that these irrigation systems are in good order," he said.

In addition, de Mesa said the DA would continue to build water-impounding projects to store rainfall during the dry spell.

Earlier this month, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) declared the end of El Niño.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reminded local governments to stand ready for the effects of La Niña and assured farmers of the government's preparedness.

"Your government is here at all times. During the dry season and the upcoming rainy season, we are ready to support you all," Marcos said.

The Department of Energy, for its part, has started its preparations for the La Niña phenomenon to avoid or mitigate damages to transmission lines.

Pagasa said La Niña may develop within June to August.

La Niña is characterized by unusually cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific.

The climate pattern is usually associated with above-normal rainfall conditions. Its potential adverse impacts include floods and landslides in vulnerable areas.