MANILA, March 15 -- Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. cited the need for more sustainable solutions, such as water impounding systems, to mitigate the effects of the El Nino phenomenon.

Teodoro, also chairperson of the government's Task Force El Nino, made the remark at the launch of the "Gift of Tree" mobile application in Camp O'Donnell, Capas, Tarlac on March 13, the DND said in a news release on Friday.

He added that these sustainable facilities would not only safeguard the environment but also the well-being of communities.

"We need more dams and water impounding systems. We are doing our share to protect the environment, and to have disaster risk reduction, we are talking already about quality of...