Amid the scorching heat waves caused by El Niño across the nation, Reena Ghelani, the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, and Climate Crisis Coordinator for the El Niño Response, visited the island province of Catanduanes.

Catanduanes was selected as the pilot province for observing and studying the effects of El Niño.

Various programs, including climate-resilient housing and livelihood programs, were inspected during the visit.

Ghelani also sought insights into how people on the island are coping and overcoming the impacts of the hot weather.

“Nakakaranas po [kami dito] ng tagtuyot, minsan [umaasa] nalang kami sa puno ng kahoy o sa ilog… Yung mga pananim sa paligid ng bahay apektado,” Fe Rojas, a resident, said.

She engaged in dialogues with residents about their preparedness for other calamities such as typhoons, to plan potential assistance from the United Nations.

“I will encourage — and very active[ly] — about demanding solutions, [because] the Philippines is one of the countries [that is] least responsible, and as I said most affected [by El Niño], so we [are] really demanding for national [and] community solutions,” Ghelani said.