Summit urged to prepare for El Niño, avert water shortage

MANILA, Philippines - The government has been urged to immediately implement precautionary measures to mitigate the expected harsh impact of the El Niño phenomenon, which weather forecasters said has already started and could wreak havoc on the country’s agricultural and aquatic sectors.

In a media forum last week, Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones urged national leaders to immediately convene an Agri Summit and draw up measures to address the impact of the expected long dry spell in the country.

Briones issued the call following reports that the water level in some dams in the country have started to go down, and farm lands have started to dry up.

He also expressed fears for the possible water shortage as the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System is reportedly intending to cut down its water supply to its customers.

The El Niño phenomenon is an abnormal weather pattern caused by the warming of the Pacific Ocean. It is characterized by extreme climatic changes, which include the warming along South America, torrential rains in North America, extreme temperature rise and drought in Southeast Asia and Australia. El Niño occurs every two to seven years.

Drought is expected during El Niño. Soil and water qualities are also affected – soil becomes dry, almost desert like, while salt water intrusion may occur in the water system, aside from shortage in domestic water supply. Forest fire may also occur due to extreme heat.

The phenomenon will also affect human health, since it may cause diseases such as diarrhea and skin ailments related to the scarcity of water, and disorders associated with high temperatures like heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat injury and heat stroke.

Briones suggested that the government spearhead the rehabilitation of irrigation facilities in the provinces where water is supposed to pass regularly especially during the dry spell. He said extreme heat may also damage agricultural crops like rice and corn, as well as the poultry and livestock.

Briones also urged the government to provide free supply of seeds and fertilizers to farmers during the time of crisis.