BY GLENDA TAYONA AND DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
ILOILO City – La Niña, a weather pattern characterized by above normal rainfall conditions, is seen to present challenges to the efforts of the government to fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It could adversely affect the entire Visayas and Mindanao from October until March next year, warned the country’s weather bureau.
Flashfloods and landslides are possible, thus, evacuation centers may be needed as temporary shelters.
On Wednesday, several areas in southern Negros Occidental experienced flooding due to torrential rains brought by a combination of a low pressure area and southwest monsoon or “habagat.”
In Sipalay City, personnel of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) rescued three families living near the Sipalay River in the city’s Mambaroto and Cabadiangan area.
Sipalay CDRRMO reported 22 individuals were brought to safety. The river overflowed due to non-stop rains.
Parts of Sitio Dingasaan in Barangay Inayawan, Cauayan town also experienced a flashflood although there were no reports of evacuation.
Local government units (LGUs) and their stakeholders must be aware of these expected problems, according to Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Rolando Distura.
“Our resilience and readiness to fight COVID-19 have been tested and over the months, we remain steadfast. But…how strong and resilient (are) our local government(s) if in the midst of this pandemic we also experience natural disaster(s) that could worsen the situation,” Distura asked during Tuesday’s regular session of the Provincial Board.
He urged LGUs to reassess and recalibrate their disaster risk reduction plans while taking into consideration the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Study, plan and prepare,” Distura stressed. “Take the onset of La Niña during this time of pandemic as a challenge to make a much more disaster resilient province of Iloilo.”
La Niña, caused by below-average sea surface temperatures, can occur on average every two to seven years, said the United States National Ocean Service.
Ana Solis, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (Pagasa) climate monitoring and prediction section chief, said the weather pattern’s forecast is expected to affect the Mimaropa region, the eastern section of Luzon, the entire Visayas and Mindanao particularly from December until March.
Solis said La Niña may be categorized as weak to moderate but it may still cause adverse effects like landslides and floodings in vulnerable areas.
But Pagasa also sees the positive impact of La Niña especially in helping replenish dwindling water supply in some dams./PN
