Duterte orders reactivation of El Niño Task Force

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has signed  a memorandum order that will reactivate and reconstitute the Presidential El Niño Task Force, in a bid to enhance the coordination among concerned agencies.

 Malacañang released yesterday Memorandum Order No. 38, signed by the President on Aug. 13.

The El Niño Task Force was reconvened in 2015, which also led to the crafting of a Roadmap for Addressing the Impacts of El Niño (RAIN) to mitigate the effects of the phenomenon on critical areas –– food security, energy security, water, health and safety.

The director general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is designated  as the overall head of the reactivated Presidential Task Force Force to mitigate the effects of El Niño phenomenon.

The secretary of the Department of Agriculture is designated as head for food security, while the environment secretary will head water security and the energy secretary for energy security.

The health and interior secretaries, meanwhile, will be heading health and safety, respectively.

Other members include the secretaries of the Department of Science and Technology; National Defense and (chairperson of) National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council; Social Welfare and Development; Labor and Employment; Trade and Industry; Presidential Communications Operations Office; director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; administrator of the Office of Civil Defense; executive director of the NDRRMC; and administrators of the National Food Authority, National Irrigation Authority and PAGASA.

Under the MO, the task force shall revise and update the RAIN and monitor the implementation of short and long-term solutions and programs, focused on the five critical areas.

If necessary, the task force shall submit to the President a monthly report on the implementation of the order.  

The funding requirements for the implementation of the order shall be charged against the existing appropriations of the member-agencies of the task force.