Manila Philippines — According to an official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), local governments in the Philippines are ready to address the possible impact of the La Niña phenomenon.
DILG Undersecretary Marlo Iringan said that in their assessment, the LGUs are prepared for the coming La Niña.
“Sa aming assessment handa po yung ating mga local na pamahalaan sa darating na La Niña (In our assessment, our local governments are ready for the upcoming La Niña),” DILG Undersecretary Marlo Iringan said in an interview.
The DILG has already issued directives to the LGUs through memorandum circulars, which contain preparations and measures for the coming rainy season, including Oplan Tag-ulan and Listo sa Tag-ulan.
Iringan emphasized the importance of meeting local councils in disaster risk reduction management, doing pre-disaster risk assessment, and developing action plan and contingency measures.
LGUs were also advised to coordinate closely with PAGASA and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), as well as update hazard maps with the DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., who chairs the Task Force El Niño, has instructed the said task force to begin preparations for the possible onset of the La Niña phenomenon next month.
According to PAGASA, La Niña may develop during June-July-August, bringing more than normal rainfall conditions in the last quarter of the year and the first months of next year.