DAVAO CITY, May 14 (PIA) An officer of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Davao del Norte warned residents to brace for the long dry-spell which might occur in June 2014 and will extend towards the first three months of 2015.
Jose Salvador, senior forest management specialist of the DENR Davao del Norte said everyone will be affected by the drought due to the scarcity of water sources.
He advised those living in the mountains to save water by building reservoirs that will be used to store water supply for drinking, cooking, hygiene and cleaning.
Salvador also urged big corporations to cash in by providing material support for the building of reservoirs for communities as part of their corporate social responsibility.
He revealed that the DENR has completed all hazard maps on flood and landslide-prone areas nationwide that can be used by the local government units in disaster preparation and mitigation while P29-Million was already allotted for the 2,100 hectares in Davao del Norte under the government’s greening program.
“The El Nino phenomenon might impact on the greening program since we will have difficulty in growing trees in the absence of water,” Salvador said.
He also urged farming communities to feed on crops that can withstand the drought for their own consumption like the kamansi.
Engr. Gerry Pedrico, chief meteriologist of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration in Davao City said their agency coordinates with the local government units, the Department of Agriculture, DENR, Department of Social Welfare and Development and water districts to brace for the El Nino.
He said the long dry-spell might either stop or continue depending on the prevailing temperature of the surface water on the Eastern Pacific.
Pedrico said that their weather forecasting models all point to the probability of a drought from June 2014 to March 2015.
He said that despite the projected drought, the municipalities in Compostela Valley and the East Coast of Davao Region will be spared since these areas will be affected by the North-East Monsoon which will bring rains to these areas. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)
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