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THE
government may review its growth projections for the
year in view of a possible drought, National Economic
and Development Authority (Neda) Officer in Charge
Augusto Santos said on Tuesday.
Santos
told reporters after the Legislative Executive
Development Advisory Council (Ledac) meeting in
Malacañang that so far, growth targets for the year
remain on track, but indicated that this would be
reviewed if a drought hits the country.
Asked
whether growth targets this year may be revised if the
prolonged dry spell in Luzon becomes a full-blown
drought, the official said: “We still have to look at
that, but for the moment, the growth projections for
this year are [good]. But definitely I think we have to
review that.”
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, who was also at the
Ledac meeting, said the dry spell may lead to a rice
production shortfall of 200,000 to 400,000 metric tons,
which is why he has been going around the hard-hit
regions to determine the extent of the possible loss—the
basis of a mitigating “quick turnaround program” in
other regions.
Yap also
asked the Department of Budget and Management to
“advance” the release of P500 million for the irrigation
and infrastructure needs of Regions 1 to 3 and the
Cordillera Administrative Region, most affected by the
dry spell.
He said
the “initial” P500-million fund will be used to repair
irrigation canals, channels, dikes and provide water
pumps. “This is the emergency need now because there is
runoff water that may be collected and used in farm
areas,” Yap said.
At the
Ledac, the President ordered the Neda, Department of
Energy and the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources to hammer out with Congress and the private
sector “a package of policies and programs designed to
progressively reduce the usage of water and energy per
unit of farm, factory and other economic output.”
She said
the comprehensive strategy will include “forest
conservation and expansion to absorb greenhouse gases
warming the world, and to enhance our water resources
while preventing flooding, erosion and siltation.”
Press
Secretary Ignacio Bunye said in a news briefing that
Environment Secretary Jose Atienza presented the
national strategy on climate change by showing the
impact of global warming and provided a comprehensive
list of activities to mitigate the effects of global
warming.
“I think
there was general understanding, and general acceptance
of the premises for having a comprehensive approach to
the climate-change problem,” Bunye said. |
