Presidential Adviser for Environmental Protection Neric Acosta said Cebu is a high risk area for El Niño quoting an assessment of Manila Observatory. (CDN PHOTO/ MARIAN Z. CODILLA)
The Mactan office of the state weather bureau Pagasa said the El Niño dry spell will last until August at the earliest or January next year at the latest.
During this morning’s water summit organized by the Cebu provincial government, Presidential Advisor for Environmental Protection Neric Acosta said Cebu is one of the highest risk areas and among the most vulnerable to the El Niño dry spell.
“Cebu is one of the most ill-prepared for climate change. Cebu is critical because it is the fastest growing region. The demand for water in Cebu is higher than the demand in Mindanao,” Acosta said.
Aside from the reduced surface water, Cebu is threatened by the rapid salt water intrusion which is also caused by over extraction of ground water.
Acosta also showed a simulation of a rise of 2-meter, 4-meter, and 6-meter in the sea level which showed that almost half of Mactan island especially in Cordova area to be underwater.
“There is no time frame, it is going to happen anytime,” Acosta told local government officials and concerned groups.
Baltazar Tribunalo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) chief, reported that most of the towns’ agricultural lands dried up affecting the produce of the farmers.
He also said creeks and small lakes in upland barangays have dried up.
READ: Cebu City readying measures for El Niño spell
The water supply in the towns of Madridejos, Bantayan, Santa Fe and Borbon as well as Dalaguete, Alegria, Alcantara, Tallisay, Minglanilla, Naga, Ginatilan, Samboan, Bojoon and Oslob are drying up.
In Tabogon, Carmen, and Compostela, Tribunalo said rivers have started to show signs of drying up.
They also received reports of fish kill in fresh water farms in Alegria, Talisay and Catmon. Tabada said May is expected to be the hottest month of the year.
Though there is another typhoon that is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility next Sunday that will be named Egay (international name, Dolphin), Cebu will continue to experience warm temperature with below normal rainfall.
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Tabada advised local government officials to prepare waters barrel and water impounding areas to store water next month to offset the dry spell.
Tabada also warned that the southwest monsoon is going to affect Cebu by July which may bring heavy rains and cause floods as dry ground water may be unable to easily absorb the rainwater.