Malacanang joins DOST and PAGASA in calling for
conservative use of water
Malacanang has joined the Department of Science
and Technology and the Philippine Atmospheri Geophysical Services
Adminsitration in calling for the conservative use of water, as the water
levels in dams supplying potable water to Metro Manila has reached critical
levels due to the scorching heat of summer.
Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio
Coloma, Jr. made the call in a press briefing broadcast over government radio
dzRB Radyo ng Bayan as he noted the warning of the DOST and PAGASA over the occurrence
of El Nino next month.
“Batay sa pag-aaral ng PAGASA, posibleng
magsimula na ang panahon ng El Niño sa darating na buwan ng Hunyo. Kapag ito ay
naganap, maaari itong tumagal ng hanggang siyam na buwan o hanggang unang
bahagi ng 2015,” Coloma said.
“Ayon kay Kalihim Mario Montejo ng DOST,
maaaring mag-resulta sa mas kaunting pag-ulan kaya’t magpapahayag ang PAGASA ng
buwanang ulat hinggil sa pag-ulan sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa,” he added.
El Niño is a weather phenomenon that could
affect the normal rainfall pattern in the country generally resulting in
reduced rainfall. PAGASA will be furnishing a monthly rainfall outlook for six
months for the different parts of the country. El Niño causes the behavior of
tropical cyclones to become erratic, affecting its tracks and intensity. The
tropical cyclone tracks are expected to shift northward and its intensity could
become stronger. Concerned agencies are advised to take precautionary measures
to mitigate the potential impact of this phenomenon.
“Kaisa po kami sa panawagan ng DOST at PAGASA sa
kahalagahan ng wasto at matipid na paggamit ng tubig,” Coloma said.
“Ayon sa kanilang pinakahuling ulat, nasa
kritikal na antas ang tubig sa Angat Dam na siyang pinanggagalingan ng hanggang
90 porsyento ng tubig sa Metro Manila at mga kalapit na lalawigan. Ginagamit
din ang tubig mula sa Angat Dam para sa irigasyon at elektrisidad,” he added.
He said President Aquino has tasked members of
his Cabinet to undertake measures to address the effects of the El Nino
phenomeno.
“Ang climate change mitigation and adaptation ay
isa sa mga prayoridad na programa sa Philippine Development Plan,” Coloma said.
PND (rck)
Malacanang sends greetings to Palarong Pambansa
delegates
Malacanang sent its greetings to the delegates
of the 2014 Palarong Pambansa in Santa Cruz, Laguna that will commenced on
Monday (May 5).
“Bumabati kami sa lahat ng kabataang atleta na
lalahok sa 2014 Palarong Pambansa na magsisimula Lunes sa lalawigan ng Laguna,”
Presidential Communication Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr.
said Sunday.
“Kaisa kami ng sambayanan sa pag-asang ang
palaro sa taong ito ay magsisilbing tagapagtaguyod sa pagpapahalaga sa
displina, pagkilos bilang iisang pangkat o teamwork, pagiging patas at
makatwiran, pagkakaisa at paggalang sa kapwa,” Coloma added.
Palarong Pambansa is an scholastic athletic
competition that serves as a means to promote Physical Education and Sports as
an integral part of the Basic Education Curriculum.
There are an estimated 11,200 student-athletes
from 17 regions around the country that will participate in the Palarong
Pambansa. PND (ag)
Palace assures food security amid threat of El
Niño
Malacanang assured Sunday that the there are
enough measures to ensure food security in the country amid the threat of a
long El Nino effect.
Presidential Communication Operations Office
Secretary Heminio Coloma, Jr., said Sunday that food security is one of the
priorities of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
“Kaya kapag tinunghayan po natin ang kanilang
budget sa General Appropriations Act of 2015, makikita po nating nakahanay doon
ang mga kongkretong programa sa pagtiyak na magkakaroon tayo ng sapat na
pagkain,” said Coloma in a press briefing aired Sunday over dzRB Radyo ng
Bayan.
He said that the Department of Agriculture
considered and anticipated the natural calamities that may hit the country.
“Isa na po diyan ‘yung pag-diversify ng ating
mga supply kung sakaling tamaan ng bagyo o kalamidad ang isang lugar na hindi
naman mawa-wipe out o mawawala ang ating inaasahang panggagalingan ng pagkain
sapagkat nakapaghanda naman po sa pamamagitan ng pagtatanim sa iba’t ibang
lugar ng ating bansa,” Coloma explained.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
Astronomical Services Administration – Department of Science and Technology
(PAGASA-DOST) warned that the country may feel the effect of El Nino by June
2014 and will last until the first quarter of next year.
The El Nino phenomenon is an anomalous warming
of the ocean water temperature that affects the countries surrounding the
Pacific Ocean, this brings drought and trigger abnormal weather patterns. PND
(ag)
