BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – This city is preparing for the El Niño phenomenon through several vital measures aimed at mitigating its effects.
The city government, specifically through the Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion (LEDIP) Office and the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO), is actively involved in addressing the challenges.
Officials and relevant departments have discussed the potential impacts on local businesses and communities, sharing essential preventive measures, practices, and methods to lessen El Niño’s effects. These efforts include water conservation initiatives, providing assistance to affected stakeholders, and raising awareness about the potential consequences of this weather phenomenon.
Mayor Jerry Treñas is expected to detail the impacts of El Niño on agriculture, water supply, the economy, health, and other sectors.
The state weather bureau has forecasted that El Niño could lead to below-normal rainfall in Iloilo City, especially during the dry season from December to May, potentially resulting in water shortages that would impact agriculture, household water supply, and other water-dependent industries.
High temperatures associated with El Niño could also heighten the risk of heat-related illnesses due to hotter and drier conditions.
Reduced rainfall during El Niño periods may lower water levels in rivers, dams, and reservoirs, further affecting water supply to the city. This situation could also diminish agricultural productivity and incomes, thereby impacting the local economy.
The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) has advised the public to begin conserving water and to use it wisely in anticipation of El Niño.
El Niño is characterized by the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean, leading to significant weather changes.
Despite these challenges, South Balibago Resources, Inc. (SBRI) has assured residents of sufficient water supplies.
During the opening of a water hydrant in Barangay Bito-on, Jaro district, SBRI president Cristina Isabelle Panlilio-Alejandro stated the company is “fully prepared” to address the effects of El Niño.
SBRI, which draws its water supply from the Jalaur River, has approximately 13,000 cubic meters of water ready for its consumers in the Jaro district, benefiting around 1,000 households in Barangay Bitoon through a pipe-laying project./PN
