BAGUIO CITY (PIA) -- The Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CRDRRMC), through the inter-agency task groups, is now implementing a comprehensive action plan that aims to mitigate the possible impact of the El Niño phenomenon in the region.

CRDRRMC chairperson and Office of Civil Defense regional director Albert Mogol presided over a special meeting of the full council on January 19 for the updates on the implementation of the comprehensive action plans that were crafted in 2023, and other DRRM concerns. 

Larry Esperanza of the PAGASA Baguio Synoptic Station reported the forecast of a strong El Niño with more dry days expected in the Cordillera region in the first quarter of 2024. By the end of January, the provinces of Abra, and Mountain Province are forecast to be under dry spell while Benguet, Kalinga and Ifugao will experience drought.  

By the end of February up to the end of March, all Cordillera provinces will be under drought conditions. 

Dry spell is determined if an area has way below normal rainfall condition for two consecutive months, while drought is way below normal rainfall condition for three consecutive months. 

Way below normal rainfall condition is characterized by more than 60 percent reduction from the normal, which refers to 30-year average rainfall, Ezperanza explained.

During the meeting, the Department of Agriculture as lead agency of the Inter-Agency Task Group El Niño, gave updates on the comprehensive action plan, particularly on mitigation actions being undertaken by the task units on food security, water security, health and public safety.

Mogol called for a continuing united and proactive approach from the council member agencies, and the local government units through their local DRRM councils in mitigating the possible effects of El Niño in the Cordillera.

“We can see the effectiveness of our comprehensive plans when the El Niño and the dry season are over. Let us continue our strong collaboration, and remember that our mantra in ensuring disaster resilient communities in the region, it must be LGU-led, people-centered and national government-enabled,” Mogol said. (CCD/PIA CAR)