Northern Mindanao weather aberrations monitored

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Aberrations in weather conditions have caused excessive rainfall that led to flash floods and landslides in this city as well as Misamis Oriental province in January, or five times the monthly average, data from the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) showed. Mario C. Guya, regional weather specialist, noted that a study covering 23 years (1977- 2000) have indicated that the average normal rainfall in this part of the country in January was only 82.8 millimeters. Last month’s average, however, totaled 457 millimeters, the highest in decades.

"It has even exceeded the total accumulated rainfall data for the city for the whole year," said Mr. Guya. Last month’s floods have displaced about 3,000 families. An additional 2,000 families have lost their homes due to flash floods and landslides in neighboring towns and cities. Mr. Guya said PAGASA is also consulting with different geophysical and astronomical institutions to study changing weather systems especially in Northern Mindanao.

"We look at three channels for satellite images. These are visible, infrared and water vapor," said Mr. Guya. "It is sunny weather by March but May would be the start of the rainy season again." However, climate change could alter such schedule and, thus, improving monitoring is important. PAGASA, he said, is upgrading facilities in various parts of Mindanao in response to climate change.

For instance, this city’s weather tracking device would be transferred to El Salvador town, a 20-minute drive. El Salvador in recent years has become one of the flood-prone areas in Misamis Oriental. Mr. Guya said that the proposed structure would be constructed 2.5 meters above ground level. There were also bid announcements for the construction of the Hinatuan radar station in Surigao del Sur province as well as the improvement of the Davao station complex. The three projects have a combined total cost of P27 million, Mr. Guya said. Meanwhile, damaged properties and infrastructure in the city, estimated at over P100 million, are undergoing rehabilitation.

The city’s business chamber also noted economic activities in have normalized since last month, although losses have been significant. January’s downpour have traumatized residents who have experienced flash floods from knee-deep to at least 1.8 meters. "We are putting heavy appliances and furniture at higher grounds because we can’t let the disaster to happen again. We don’t want to get caught unprepared," said Jinky Bernasor, a resident at a subdivision in Opol town where hundreds of homes were inundated. — Geefe P. Alba

BFAR warns against shellfish from red-tide waters

Written by Jennifer A. Ng / Reporter
Sunday, 08 February 2009 20:27

www.businessmiror.com.ph

THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) warned over the weekend that red tide is active in Masbate, Sorsogon and Zamboanga del Sur. Thus, the public should refrain from buying and eating all types of shellfish from these provinces, particularly those harvested from the Juag Lagoon in Matnog and Sorsogon Bay in Sorsogon, the coastal waters of Milagros in Masbate, and Dumanguilas Bay in Zamboaga del Sur.

BFAR, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA), noted that marine organisms have accumulated high levels of toxin from the microscopic dinoflagellate known to scientists as Pyrodinium bahamense var. compressum that causes the red-tide phenomenon. BFAR director Malcolm Sarmiento Jr. reiterated that harvesting, selling, buying and eating contaminated organisms from the said areas are banned until toxin levels have dropped to the acceptable range.

“Sadly, there is no way for the public to detect red tide-contaminated shellfish, so that the local government involved must seriously impose the ban on shellfish gathering in areas where red-tide blooms are detected by the BFAR,” Sarmiento said. BFAR noted that the recent spate of illnesses and deaths from red tide poisoning in Albay and nearby provinces could easily be prevented if the ban was strictly enforced and consumers heeded the warnings in bulletins regularly released by the bureau.

Under RA 8550 or the Fisheries Code of 1998, local government units must enforce all fishery laws and local ordinances enacted by the city or municipal councils in their respective municipal waters. Sarmiento said the toxic blooms in certain coastal waters of the country have been recurring for the past 30 years and Sorsogon Bay and Juag Lagoon are among the primary areas under tight watch. Water and shellfish in these areas are sampled weekly and BFAR gives bulletins and advisories twice a month.

He said, however, that fish, squids, shrimps and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that these are fresh and the gills, intestines and other internal organs are removed, and the fish is thoroughly washed before cooking. According to BFAR, areas free of the toxic red tide are the coastal waters of Cavite, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Navotas, Bulacan and Bataan in Manila Bay, and coastal waters of Alaminos, Anda, Bolinao and Wawa in Bani, Pangasinan and Masinloc Bay in Zambales. Also red-tide free are the coastal waters of Mandaon in Masbate, Honda Bay in Puerto Princesa City, Inner Malampaya Sound in Taytay and El Nido in Palawan, Tinagong Dagat in President Roxas and Saspian Bay in Capiz, Irong-Irong, Maqueda and Villareal Bays in Samar.

The waters of Ormoc, San Pedro, Cancabato and Caraigara Bays in Leyte, Biliran Waters in Biliran Province, Hinatuan, Lianga and Bislig Bays in Surigao del Sur, Taguines Lagoon in Camiguin Island, Balite Bay in Davao Oriental, and the coast of Kabasalan in Sibuguey Bay, Zamboanga Sibugay have also been declared safe from red tide by BFAR.

Linug da Isab sa hinatuan

Sige ra kuman aro'y linug ngani sa kanato lugar nan da ini.. pagka kusog raba. Laong pa sa balita na mabasa mayo sa ubos sine gikan sa Inquirer (Posted 20:39:00 01/28/2009) bag-o hay gayod mainit init pa na balita. Basaha ang sunod.....

4.7 quake hits Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines—A 4.7 magnitude earthquake struck the southern island of Mindanao at 6:18 p.m. Wednesday, the US Geological Survey said. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The undersea quake was located 90 kilometers south-southeast of Hinatuan, in Surigao del Sur province at a depth of 78.7 kilometers. The Philippines sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” where continental plates collide causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity. Source from: Inquirer.net

1/30/09 Dugang nga balita la-ong isab sa Tempo News na aro'y badi na posibidad na magka tsunami sa mga probinsya na atubang sa pacific sea. La-ong sa balita..... basaha ang sunod..

Tsunami fears spread after 4.7 quake in Surigao Sur

BUTUAN CITY – A magnitude 4.7 earthquake shook Surigao del Sur the other night, causing tension among residents of the Pacific-side province who thought the tremor would trigger a tsunami. The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Northeastern Mindanao said the quake struck at 6:18 p.m. Wednesday with its epicenter located under the sea with the depth of 79 kilometers, some 90 kilometers south southwest of Hinatuan town, Surigao del Sur. The OCD report cited no casualties or damage to property as a result of the tremor. (Mike U. Crismundo)