President Ferdinand R. Marcos on Tuesday ordered the creation of a coordinating body to consolidate all measures to mitigate the impacts of the El Niño phenomenon, which is expected to persist until the end of second quarter of next year.

In a sectoral meeting in Malacañang, President Marcos said the task force will be led by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) under the Office of the President.

“We’ll have to organize first the task force. This is the time to put every conditions together,” Marcos said.

The President stressed the need to prioritize efforts based on short-term and long-term interventions of the government.

Based on the National Action Plan for El Niño, the 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.

DOST reports showed that 65 provinces across the country have potential for drought, while there are around 6 provinces with potential for dry spell.

The President stressed the need to intensify efforts and ensure timely release of assistance to affected areas.

Marcos also told officials to encourage the public to take part in the government efforts. He *stressed the need for a massive information campaign* that would remind the people to conserve resources, such as water and energy. PND