El Niño Advisory: Palace ensures El Niño Interventions are ready by now

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Malacañang Palace is now starting to sound the alarm on the approaching El Niño phenomenon, along with the assurance that they have already set certain intervention measures to deal with the possible harsh effects of this drought season to possibly hit the country this June or July and could last until 2015.

Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said the government has already alerted and ordered all agencies across the nation to ensure food security and to reduce any possible adverse effects of this year's "extreme dry spell."

According to Coloma, the government has already allocated ₱ 1.3 billion budget for the installation of small-scale irrigation facilities nationwide. He further said the Department of Agriculture (DA) is now collaborating with the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) to carry out cloud seeding operations.

Coloma also mentioned about DA's plan to provide farmers with shallow tube wells and crop breeds suitable for the entire drought season.

"The government is taking concerted action to ensure food security for our citizens and to mitigate the possible effects of the projected onset of the El Nino weather phenomenon in the country," Coloma said in a press statement.

DoE identifies hydro-power plants likely be affected by El Niño

Meanwhile, the Department of Energy (DoE), through DoE Secretary Jericho Petilla has likewise confirmed this morning that they have already conducted inventories on which hydro-power plants in the country are more likely become affected by the fast-approaching El Niño phenomenon this June.

In a press interview, Petilla said advance preparations on hydro-power plants is very important considering the fact that power production is only deemed a third priority by the water board, next to drinking and agriculture.

Plantilla added they are also prepping for maintenance showdown of a coal-power plant in Quezon Province this June. The secretary further emphasized that this coal-power plant is providing a huge amount of usable power nationwide.

Plantilla is now appealing the public to preserve water and likewise on becoming more efficient in using power or electricity especially this May, as this month could be the peak season of summer in the country.

Categories: National