Reactivating and Reconstituting the El Niño Task Force Created Pursuant to Executive Order No. 16 (S. 2001), and for Other Purposes

August 13, 2019

MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 38

REACTIVATING AND RECONSTITUTING THE EL NIÑO TASK FORCE CREATED PURSUANT TO EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 16 (S. 2001), AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS, Executive Order (EO) No. 16 created a Presidential Task Force to enhance agency coordination in the formulation and implementation of measures that will mitigate the effects of the El Niño and La Niña phenomena;

WHEREAS, EO No. 16 also ordered the formulation and regular monitoring of the implementation of a Comprehensive Disaster Preparedness and Rehabilitation Plan for the El Niño phenomenon to help the public cope therewith and minimize its disastrous effects;

WHEREAS, the El Niño Task Force reconvened in 2015, and crafted the Roadmap for Addressing the Impacts of El Niño (RAIN) to mitigate the effects of the El Niño phenomenon on four areas: (a) food security; (b) energy security; (c) health, and (d) safety;

WHEREAS, recent monitoring and analyses of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) — Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) indicate that the warm sea surface temperature which started in November of last year in the Central and Eastern Equatorial Pacific has fully developed into the El Niño phenomenon; aScITE

WHEREAS, current climate models of the DOST-PAGASA suggest that there is a seventy-five per cent (75%) probability that the El Niño phenomenon will persist from June until August 2019; and

WHEREAS, the recurrence of the El Niño phenomenon calls for the implementation of both short and long-term solutions to ensure food, water and energy security, safeguard livelihoods, and improve the country's disaster and climate resilience;

NOW, THEREFORE, the following are hereby ordered:

SECTION 1. Reactivation and Reconstitution of the El Niño Task Force. — The Presidential Task Force (Task Force) to mitigate the effects of the El Niño phenomenon created pursuant to EO No. 16 is hereby reactivated and its membership reconstituted as follows:

 

Overall Head	:	Director-General and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary, National Economic and Development Authority
Head for Food Security	:	Secretary, Department of Agriculture
Head for Water Security	:	Secretary, Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Head for Energy Security	:	Secretary, Department of Energy
Head for Health	:	Secretary, Department of Health
Head for Safety	:	Secretary, Department of the Interior and Local Government
Members	:	Secretary, DOST Secretary, Department of National Defense and Chairperson of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Secretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary, Department of Labor and Employment Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary, Presidential Communications Operations Office Director-General, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Administrator, Office of Civil Defense and Executive Director, NDRRMC Administrator, National Food Authority Administrator, National Irrigation Authority Administrator, PAGASA

 

SECTION 2. Updating of the RAIN. — The Task Force shall revise and update the RAIN, and monitor the implementation of short and long-term solutions and programs identified therein, especially on the five (5) critical areas, namely: (i) food security; (ii) water security; (iii) energy security; (iv) health; and (v) safety.

SECTION 3. Agency Support. — The Task Force may call upon the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Tourism and all other government entities to extend support as may be necessary to implement the foregoing directives.

SECTION 4. Reporting Requirement. — The Task Force shall submit to the President through the Executive Secretary a monthly report on the implementation of this Order.

SECTION 5. Funding. — The funding requirements for the implementation of this Order shall be charged against the existing appropriations of the member agencies of the Task Force. DETACa

SECTION 6. Repeal. — All other orders, issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Order, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 7. Separability. — If any provision of this Order is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. — This Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 13th day of August, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand Nineteen. HEITAD

 

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 115, No. 37, p. 10247 on September 16, 2019.