Cebu Braces for Prolonged Dry Spell Until August

With the dry spell expected to last until August, the Cebu Provincial Capitol has recommended to local government units (LGUs) to submit requests for assistance that will cushion the impact of the El Niño phenomenon.

This, despite the transition of power with Governor-elect Gwendolyn Garcia taking the helm at the Provincial Capitol, while incumbent Governor Hilario Davide III will assume as the new presiding officer of the Cebu Provincial Board as vice governor.

Rhee Telen Jr., information officer of the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), said delivery of assistance to LGUs will continue until the hot weather phenomenon subsides in the next three months.

“We can proceed with revalidation with the request and distribute the available assistance because those purchase requests have been prepared prior to May 13 mid-term elections,” Telen said in a radio interview Thursday.

The provincial disaster management office, he said, is waiting for feedback from LGUs affected by the dry spell.

They will base their actions and purchases upon the requests from the LGUs, he added.

According to the report, dry spell struck the cities of Bogo, Danao, Carcar, Mandaue, Toledo, and Naga.

The southern municipalities listed as having been affected by the weather phenomenon are Alcantara, Alegria, Asturias, Aloguinsan, Balamban, Badian, Dalauete, Ginatilan, Malabuyoc, Moalboal, San Fernando, Santander, Sibonga, and Pinamungajan, while in the north are Bantayan, Santa Fe, Compostela, Consolacion, Carmen, Daanbantayan, Medellin, San Remegio, Tabuelan, Tuburan, Tudela, Pilar, Poro, and San Francisco in Camotes island.

According to the climate outlook issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Wednesday, there is a 70-percent probability that the El Niño weather phenomenon will continue until August.

Earlier report from the Provincial Capitol said the dry spell resulted to a total damage amounting to PHP121 million on crops and livestock from 35 of the 51 LGUs in Cebu.

The town of Bantayan declared the highest damage amounting to PHP24 million due to heat-induced disease that struck 300-hectare seaweed plantation.

The midwestern town of Tuburan, known for its locally-grown coffee, has reported around PHP19 million worth of damage to livestock and crops.

The Philippine News Agency learned that at least 16 of the affected LGUs have declared their respective areas under state of calamity. (PNA)