SurSur solon agrees creation of El Nino team
SURIGAO DEL SUR -- Surigao del Sur First District Representative Romeo Momo Sr., on Sunday, April 23, expressed his full support for the creation of an El NiΓ±o team as directed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to address the looming water shortage and improve public infrastructure to help mitigate the impact of the drought.
An engineer by profession, former undersecretary of the Department of Public
Works and Highways (DPWH), and now chair of the House Committee on Public Works
and Highways, Momo believes that the President’s plan to upgrade the country’s
flood control and water management by building impounding dams, small river
impounding projects, and high dams is the “right move forward.”
“It is commendable that the President has put forth clear instructions and
plans on how we will deal with the impact of El NiΓ±o because this team would be
able to give our problems with depleting water resources the attention it
needs,” he said.
“It is high time that an administration prioritizes the construction of
critical infrastructure that would provide solutions to not only the effects of
El NiΓ±o but to other weather disturbances and climate change as well,” Momo
added.
Noting that a well-constructed plan for dealing with El NiΓ±o would also benefit
the future, the lawmaker stressed the role of “comprehensive engineering
solutions” that would last across generations.
This includes the creation of dams, catch basins, warning systems, levees, and
seawalls, among others.
Last week, Marcos ordered the creation of a government team that would focus on
mitigating the impact of the looming El NiΓ±o phenomenon, which is expected to
hit from July to September this year and to last until 2024.
The President wanted a whole-of-government approach so the country would have
“protocol-based and scientific” long-term processes.
He also wants a public awareness campaign to urge the public to conserve water.
Momo agreed that such directives are necessary in order to prepare the
government and the public for the devastating impact of El NiΓ±o on agriculture,
the marine environment, the economy, and tourism.
“It is the right move forward. This is not new to the Philippines. Time and
again, we have seen how our communities have suffered because we were never
prepared enough when the dry and wet seasons come. Today, we have an
administration willing to face that painful truth. We should give it our full
support,” the lawmaker furthered. (Office of the 1st Congressional
District/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
