An official of the Dumaguete office of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration has expressed concern over the decreased rainfall in Negros Oriental, noting its potential effect on the water supply.
Engr. Daniel Caber, chief meteorological officer, told members of the City Disaster Risk-Reduction & -Management Council last Wednesday that from an average of 158.6 mm of rainfall every October in more than 10 years, this year’s October rainfall only measured 15 mm or about a decrease of about 90 percent of rain.
Caber said Negros Oriental is experiencing a ‘moderate’ El Nino phenomenon this year, which is expected to get ‘very strong’ in the coming months.
“This is not good as we get our water from the rain,” he warned.
Another sobering indicator of future water problems is the decrease in the number of typhoons that enter the Philippines.
“On average, the Philippines has 20 typhoons but this year, only 10 typhoons came,” he said, and only one or two more typhoons are projected to enter the country for the rest of the year.
Caber said the changes in weather patterns are an effect of climate change, mostly because of anthropogenic causes or human activities.
He said that data from Pag-asa from 1951 to 2020 revealed a decreased frequency of rain.
Caber’s report to the CDRRMC was used as a guide for City planners to map out a new Local Climate Change Action Plan for the next three years.
For his part, City Disaster Risk-Reduction & -Management Officer Allen Cabaron revealed that almost half of the City’s 30 barangays are in danger of either riverine, sheet, or coastal flooding.
Riverine flooding, he explained, would be caused by run-offs from the Banica River; sheet flooding is caused by clogged drainage systems; while coastal flooding is caused by storm surges due to the rising sea levels and by high winds with high tides which could affect barangays lining the seashore or facing the waterfront .
In Dumaguete, these barangays, Cabaron said, are Banilad, Mangnao, Calindagan, part of Bajumpandan, the Población, Batinguel, Taclobo, Daro, Looc, Pulangtubig, and Camanjac. (AP)
