President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. talks to government officers and representatives during an inspection at an onion and rice field hit by drought due to El Niño in Brgy. Central, Municipality of San Jose in Occidental Mindoro on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. (PPA POOL)
MANILA, Philippines — A total of 98 cities and towns, as well as five provinces have so far declared a state of calamity due to the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, Task Force El Niño spokesperson and Presidential Communications Office Asst. Secretary Joey Villarama said on Wednesday.
“As of this morning ‘no, base sa talaan din ng OCD (Office of Civil Defense) ay nasa 103 cities and municipalities—kasama sa bilang na ito ang limang probinsiya. So nandiyan ‘yung Occidental Mindoro na pinuntahan ng pangulo kahapon, Antique, Sultan Kudarat, Basilan at Maguindanao del Sur,” said Villarama on the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing.
(As of this morning, based on the OCD’s tally, 103 cities and municipalities—included in this count are five provinces – Occidental Mindoro, which the President visited yesterday, Antique, Sultan Kudarat, Basilan and Maguindanao del Sur.)
Villarama said that there are still far-flung areas that are difficult to reach, and it is important for local governments to coordinate with the national government, echoing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s comment on synergy.
During Marcos’ inspection and situation briefing on the impacts of the El Niño phenomenon on Occidental Mindoro, he told national and local leaders to coordinate more closely.
“Kailangan ‘yung coordination ng national government at saka ‘yung local government ay kailangang matibay para hindi nag-aantay ng matagal, hindi na stock-up ‘yung mga tulong na dapat ibigay,” Marcos said.
(Better coordination is needed between the national and local governments so that there is no long waiting time, the assistance that we need to give is not delayed.)