Gov’t reactivates El Niño Task Force
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today reactivated the El Niño Task Force to coordinate the country’s
response to the unusually dry weather in the first half of the year.
The President issued the marching order during the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Cabinet
meeting this morning in Malacanang, said Office of the Press Secretary Officer-in-Charge Secretary Conrado
Limcaoco, Jr. in a press briefing.
Formed in 2001, the task force will still be chaired by the Department of Agriculture (DA)
Limcaoco said a P1.7 billion fund, drawn from various government agencies, will be used for cloud seeding
construction of shallow wells and distribution of organic fertilizers to rice, corn and value crops farmers. It will
also fund the purchase and installation of fish cages for fishpond owners.
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) will support the initiative by implementing water management
measures.
DA Undersecretary Bernie Fontanilla said agriculture and fisheries are expected to lose between P10 billion and
P20 billion, depending on the severity of the dry spell.
Despite predictions of moderate drought from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical
Services (PAGASA), Fontanilla said his department is packaging several livelihood programs for affected
farmers and fishermen.
On the other hand, mango growers stand to benefit from a dryer summer. To help growers produce a better
harvest, the DA promises to distribute mango flower inducers.
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NEDA board oks 2 projects worth $345M
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The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board chaired by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
approved today two important projects worth $345 million that will further improve the lives of Filipinos.
These are the $312.5-million Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway project and the $33 million increase in
the Social Fund of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
The Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway is an 88.5-kilometer, four-lane highway that will cut travel time
from Manila to Baguio to four hours by half.
The expressway is a build-operate-transfer (BOT) project of Private Infrastructure Development Corp. a
consortium led by San Miguel Corp. and DMCI Holdings, Construction, which will begin in the fourth quarter of
2010 and is expected to be completed in 2013, will run parallel to McArthur Highway, starting at La Paz, Tarlac
and ending at Rosario, La Union.
Meanwhile, the ARMM Social Fund, which aims to foster sustainable development, has three project
components.
Component 1 empowers target communities and creates opportunities for increased community participation in
reducing poverty and promoting a durable peace.
Component 2 rehabilitates critical infrastructure damaged during the conflict in 2000 to improve access to and
provision of services.
Component 3 supports project management, institutional strengthening and capacity building, and enhanced
governance of ARMM, local government units, and other partner institutions.
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