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Half of LGUs in Cebu now affected by dry spell

Half of the towns and cities in Cebu Province have reported some damage to crops and vegetables, as the heat continues to dry out their farms.

At least 24 local government units (LGUs) are also experiencing water supply problems in the midst of this mild El Niño, a qualitative survey conducted by the Cebu provincial government said.

Baltazar Tribunalo Jr., head of the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), said the provincial government had assigned six departments to survey all the towns and cities in the province to check the effects of El Niño.

These are the agriculture, environment and natural resources, veterinary, health and engineering departments.

The survey focused on how the heat has affected agriculture and fisheries, the environment and ecosystem, and health.

The PDDRMO office said that vegetables and other crops have been damaged, and some cracks have been seen in the land in the towns of Daanbantayan, Medellin, San Remigio, Tabuelan, Balamban, Pinamungajan, Tabogon, Borbon, Catmon, Compostela, Liloan, Tudela, Minglanilla, San Fernando, Sibonga, Argao, Boljoon, Malabuyoc, Alegria, Badian, Moalboal and Alcantara.

The cities that are experiencing the same conditions are Bogo, Toledo, Danao, Carcar and Talisay.

Earlier, the state-run Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Cebu is “likely to experience a drought or dry spell.”

Its May 2015 map showed that 41 provinces are already experiencing drought or dry spell, but the conditions are “likely to improve.”

These provinces include Bohol and Siquijor in Central Visayas.

Pagasa classifies an area as drought-affected if, for three straight months, it has reported less than 60 percent of the average rainfall for the period.

It is a dry spell when the rainfall is 21 to 60 percent of the average for three consecutive months.

During the Water Summit at the Capitol on Tuesday, Pagasa Visayas Bureau Chief Oscar Tabada said the weather bureau had expected at least nine rainy days this month.

So far, not a single rainy day has been recorded.

Pagasa also expects that the mild El Niño will continue until the end of the year.(PNA)

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