Marcos to Maguindanao agencies, LGUs: Coordinate, prepare for La Niña

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Thursday directed concerned government agencies and local government units (LGUs) in Maguindanao province to coordinate and prepare for the La Niña phenomenon.

In a speech during the distribution of presidential assistance to farmers and fisherfolk in Maguindanao del Sur, Marcos said planning for the rainy season would help ease the effects of floods to residents in the province. 

''Ngayon, papalapit na tayo sa buwan ng Hunyo, inaasahan natin na huhupa na ang matinding init, ngunit mapapalitan naman ito ng matinding pag-ulan,'' Marcos said. 

(We are approaching the month of June and we are hoping that the heat will ease, however, this will be replaced with strong rains.)

''Kaya naman, inaatasan ko ang lahat ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno na ipagpatuloy ang pakikipag-ugnayan, lalong-lalo na sa mga LGU, bilang [paghahanda] para sa darating naman na La Niña,'' he added. 

(I am directing all government agencies and local government units to coordinate as part of the prepartion for La Niña.)

The President has guaranteed the public that the government is ready to address the possible effects of La Niña in the coming months, adding that a long-term flood control solution is needed to address the effects of the weather phenomenon. 

La Niña is characterized by unusually cooler than average sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific (CEEP).

The climate pattern is usually associated with above normal rainfall conditions. Its potential adverse impacts include floods and landslide in vulnerable areas. —KBK, GMA Integrated News