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