The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) has stated that there are no plans to halt car wash and similar businesses amid the looming threat of El Niño intensifying in June.
In an interview with DZRH Damdaming Bayan, OCD Spokesperson Diego Mariano said that the government needs to understand the livelihood of Filipinos before making any decisions.
Instead, the government is implementing policies at the national level to minimize the phenomenon's impact on the public and to prepare for the impending extreme heat brought by El Niño
"Sa ngayon po, tinitingnan pa po natin 'yung mga paraan na pwedeng maibsan itong epekto ng El Niño. Tinitingnan pa po natin 'yung ibang pwedeng gawin bagamat ayaw naman natin na lubhang maapektuhan 'yung ating mga kababayan lalo na kasama yung mga car wash dahil syempre may mga kabuhayan din po na maaapektuhan," Mariano said.
Despite the threat of El Niño, the government is taking steps to prepare and mitigate its effects while considering the impact on various sectors.
The Department of Energy is continuously monitoring its water reservoirs to ensure that the public has a stable supply of electricity and water, Mariano shared.
He also said that the Department of Agriculture is looking into assisting the farmers and also considering activating its task force.
The Department of Health, meanwhile, is conducting a public campaign on the use of clean drinking water due to the water shortage that may affect its supply and quality.
