President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will be directly involved in dealing with the impact of the anticipated Super El Niño, assured the Palace on Thursday.

The Task Force El Niño will include personnel from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the Department of Agriculture (DA), the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the National Water Resources Board, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“Pinag-uusapan na po ito at babanggitin ko po ang ilang mga ahensiya, katulad ng sinabi ko nandiyan po ang DOST-PAGASA, ang DA, ang NIA, ang National Water Resources Board at ang DSWD. So, ilan lamang sila sa mga pinupulong po na mga ahensiya para mas matugunan ang paparating na super El Niño sa ating bansa,” said Palace Press Officer Claire Castro during a press briefing at the Malacañang earlier.

President Marcos will lead the Task Force meetings and directly issue orders on the course of action to be taken, the Palace official announced.

“Siya (Marcos) po ang nangunguna kapag nagkakaroon ng meeting at siya po ang nag-uutos kung ano ang dapat na gawin,” Castro said.

The Palace also advised against panic-hoarding bottled drinking water, warning that it may cause prices to spike due to higher demand, when the effects of the expected drought is yet to be felt.