00:00 Changes in weather patterns, especially those caused by El Niño, truly affect everyone
00:05 from all walks of life.
00:06 Thus, a problem of such huge scale requires all necessary preparation and countermeasures
00:12 that a high-ranking official claims will be provided by government to all those who are
00:17 affected.
00:18 Ryan Lasigas has this exclusive report.
00:23 Defense Secretary Gilberto Chedora Jr. is assuring the public that the government is
00:27 on top of the situation when it comes to the issue of El Niño.
00:31 Chedora gave the assurance after Tuesday Task Force El Niño meeting at the Office of the
00:36 Civil Defense in Quezon City.
00:37 Chedora said all proper government agencies and its logistics and manpower are being utilized
00:43 to question the impact of El Niño.
00:45 Specifically, in most parts of Luzon, Visayas and Northern Mindanao, where rainfall assessment
00:51 went way below normal rainfall conditions.
01:09 Despite this, the town of Bulalacao in Oriental Mindoro already declared a state of calamity
01:14 after rivers and fields have started to dry up.
01:17 Still, Chedora said not a single LGUs have approached their agency to ask for additional
01:23 funding.
01:45 The Bureau of Fire Protection, for one, are also on standby to provide assistance should
01:50 the need arise.
01:51 "The Bureau of Fire Protection is also prepared if necessary.
01:56 It is not necessary now because our water supply is still sufficient in general.
02:07 It is sufficient for household use and for agriculture.
02:18 As of last count, El Niño's damage has reached P942 million, affecting about 16,000 farmers
02:25 and around 15,000 hectares of palay and corn."
02:28 "As of now, all preventive measures and contingency plans of Task Force El Niño are in place
02:35 so that the impact is not that big.
02:38 We don't want to see or face the worst-case scenario, but for now, our government's
02:44 response is that it is ready and that the preparation is sufficient."
02:48 Ryan Lizigas from the National TV Network for a new and better Republic.
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