Makati activates task force against El Niño
Task Force ENSO will oversee risk-mitigating strategies and ensure the unhampered delivery of health, food and sanitation services to the city’s residents
Makati Mayor Abby Binay has announced the creation of a dedicated El Niño and Southern Oscillation Task Force that will work to mitigate the effects of the weather phenomenon in the city.
"Makati is taking proactive action to mitigate the risks and impacts of extreme weather conditions on our citizens. As early as now, we will implement contingency measures to ensure the continuity of basic services and guarantee enough food and essential supplies for Makatizens," Binay said.
Task Force ENSO is composed of key departments in the city government and power and water utility providers who will analyze and assess the city’s readiness and response to the El Niño Southern Oscillation phenomenon and its effects.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the probability of an El Niño occurrence from June to September has risen from 55 percent to 80 percent.
According to Binay, Task Force ENSO will be headed by the Makati Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to oversee risk-mitigating strategies and ensure the unhampered delivery of health, food and sanitation services.
The task force's mandate is to monitor the ENSO phenomenon and develop measures for the city's readiness regarding water supply, power outages, food availability, emergency healthcare services and infrastructure protection against flooding and landslides.
Binay also asked power and water concessionaires servicing Makati to develop concrete and implementable contingency measures to ensure power and water supply during the period of heightened risk.
For its part, Meralco has assured the city of uninterrupted power supply in key government offices, hospitals and, as much as possible, the financial district. The power company said it will implement rotational brownouts in residential areas and have already coordinated with establishments with backup power generators.
On the other hand, water concessionaires assured Makatizens of continued water supply by ensuring that their reservoirs are well-supplied and that their water treatment plants will continue to operate without disruption.
Maynilad and Manila Water have tapped deep well reserves to augment supply in case of shortage. They will activate additional water treatment facilities, explore alternative water sources and add more water tankers to deliver water to various barangays during scheduled service interruptions.
More importantly, Binay said the task force will implement a multi-sectoral awareness campaign to educate Makatizens on weather advisories and create a culture of preparedness amid climate change.
"This is an example of climate situations we should be prepared for. By conserving resources, being mindful of our environmental footprint and following the advisories and guidelines issued by Task Force ENSO, Makati and its stakeholders can effectively mitigate the effects of El Niño and its threats," the mayor concluded.