Gov’t. agencies with DA as the lead agency, convene for the finalization of the food security cluster in preparation for El Niño.

 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Bracing for the impact of El Niño which is forecasted to take a full swing this year, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10), through the Climate and Environment Risk Reduction Management Unit (CERRMU), called for a meeting to finalize the composition of Food Security Cluster on January 19, in this city.

DA-10 Field Operations Division chief and the Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) focal person Luz I. Guzman, PhD said that the meeting aims to finalize the structure of the Food Security Cluster which is responsible for giving assistance to the farmers and ensuring availability of food in the onslaught of the El Niño.

Likewise, she emphasized on the inclusion of other agencies as directed by the national DRRM through Memorandum Circular No. 5, Series of 2023 which creates a local El Niño team, particularly on the food sector with DA as the lead agency.

It also underscored how the DA, including other government agencies with the different local government units and other relevant agricultural stakeholders should converge, collaborate and cooperate in order to achieve the interventions set by the food security cluster.

The body also agreed that an action plan for mitigating the effects of El Niño should be presented by the agencies in the next meeting along with the submission of names of their respective focal persons and their alternates, and the regular conduct of meetings.

Said activity was attended by representatives from the different regional agencies which include the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC), Philippine Crop Insurance, Corp. (PCIC), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), National Food Authority (NFA), and the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI).

Also in attendance are Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project -10 (MIADP-10) Deputy Project Director Joel S. Rudinas, DRRM alternate focal person Gay Nanette M. Aleria, DA-10 CERRMU focal Sherafin Simon P. Calacar and other staff. # (CRS)