ZOOM APPLICATION – Co-leads of the Cagayan Valley Regional El Niño Team, DILG R2, the Office of the Civil Defense and the Department of Agriculture virtually convened its members on January 30, 2024 for the crafting of an action plan meant to mitigate its effects and cushion the impact of the El Niño Phenomenon in the region.

Guided by the National Action Plan for El Niño, the national government has identified five sectors where plans and activities are being laid out to mitigate the effects of El Nino, namely in water, food, power, health, and public safety.

The regional team for its part will identify and tailor fit programs and activities of all member agencies including that of public utilities and cooperatives depending on which sector they belong. This also includes the technical working group and the strategic communications unit.

Consolidated outputs, with corresponding outcome/objective, funding, target time frame and implementing agency, are then presented through their respective sector lead agencies for critiquing and recommendations.

Finalization and consolidation of the draft sectoral action plans will be made by the Office of the Civil Defense, which in turn will be presented for adoption and approval of the CVDRRMC during its 1st quarter full council meeting.

Based from DOST-PAGASA reports, Region 2 will experience way below normal or below normal in rainfall conditions from February to April except in Batanes where near normal conditions are expected in March.

(SOURCE: DMO I JOANNA ALYSSA S. PATTUGALAN)