Agri sector to suffer, weather bureau warns
By Yolanda Sotelo-Fuertes
Inquirer Northern Luzon
DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan – After being pummeled by cyclones in 2009 Pangasinan and most parts of the country will experience a long, hot summer in 2010, according to an official of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
Nathaniel Cruz, Pagasa weather services bureau head, said the cold weather being experienced in the country since December has not been as cold as it was in December 2008 because of the El Niño phenomenon (an abnormal dry spell).
The country has been experiencing the El Nino since September and might continue to feel it until June 2010, he said.
Cruz was in this city on Monday to brief the city council on Pagasa’s program on preparedness and mitigation for extreme weather conditions.
“It could be a long, hot summer. The rainy season may come late, maybe in the last week of May or first week of June, instead of April,” he said.
He said Pagasa has started linking with the Department of Agriculture to discuss mitigation measures as the country’s agriculture sector would be severely hit by the dry spell.
No typhoon is expected to enter the Philippines in the first half of 2010 because of the El Niño, according to Cruz. He added that there would be less typhoons in the second half of 2010.
About 20 typhoons entered the country every year in the past few years and “we are expecting less than that number this year,” Cruz said.
But he warned that the typhoons that would come would be just as strong and potentially devastating as those experienced in 2009.
“It does not mean that less typhoons mean weak ones. Some could be as strong as ‘Ondoy’ and ‘Pepeng,’” he said.
Tropical Storm “Ondoy” (international name: Ketsana) caused massive flooding in Metro Manila and Southern Tagalog in September while typhoon “Pepeng,” (international name: Parma) which entered the country thrice, eventually weakening into a tropical depression, flooded more than 30 towns and cities in Pangasinan in October.
“What is important is that we should always be ready long before the typhoon season is here. We should always be prepared because climate change may cause more terrible typhoons,” Cruz said.
He said people should learn about the impact of climate change, a phenomenon that would not only increase temperature but could cause severe typhoons and floods.
“From now on let’s keep in mind that what we have not experienced in the past, we can experience now. If during the past flooding, it was only the first floor of the house that can be flooded, it is possible that the second floor will be flooded when the next typhoons hit the country,” he said.
Cruz also asked Filipinos to do their share in using water wisely in preparation for the dry spell.
“For instance, those who wash clothes… should not throw away laundry water and use it for cleaning. Restaurants should not give water to customers unless they ask for it. We should also save on electricity,” he said.
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I think I need to check our Air Conditioner unit as early as possible...plus double check all the electrical set-up to get ready for this long summer...
Of course, I agree that we must all use our resources efficiently, not only during dry season...Filipinos are creative. Almost all Filipinos (or majority of Filipinos) use tabo and timba (dipper and pail) in our restrooms. It's more efficient than using a shower head. Also, when flushing the bowl, using the laundry water in a pail may save a lot of clean water.
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