Cebu to experience scattered rains

CEBU, Philippines - Unlike last Wednesday’s rain that brought flooding in downtown Cebu City, Cebuanos should expect scattered rainshowers with the sun shining in the morning in the coming days.

“Ang uwan di parehas gahapon  nga (The coming rains would not be like yesterday, Wednesday, which was) widespread. Ang ulan ugma (The rain today) until Saturday (would be) scattered nga uwan,” said Engineer Oscar Tabada in an interview with The FREEMAN yesterday.

He is the chief of Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration-Visayas chief.

Tabada said Dumaguete City and Negros Oriental would likely have a fine weather until Saturday while Cebu and Bohol would have “light to moderate showers and thunderstorm” starting Saturday to Tuesday.

He further said that light showers would be experienced in the afternoon while it would be sunny in the morning.

The rains, Tabada said, would be felt especially in July, which would be the “rainiest” month in what supposedly be a wet season. By August, the frequency of rain would begin to decline until October, when the effects of the El Niño phenomenon would be fully felt until the first quarter of  2015.

The Department of Interior and Local Government has issued a memorandum circular urging all provincial governors, city mayors, municipal mayors, as well as DILG regional directors to adopt proactive measures in preparation for the adverse effects of the dry spell which translates to reduced rainfall and erratic typhoons.

The circular directs the monitoring of the water level of local water sources and holding of coordination meetings with the Department of Education, Philippine Information Agency, and civic groups, for a possible information dissemination campaign.

The effort would support concessionaires by allowing them to use LGU-owned water tanks and similar facilities for needed distribution, among others.

As regards typhoons, LGUs were directed to ensure that the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office is functioning properly, to review and update if necessary their respective contingency plans, and to identify and take necessary actions on those place at risk.

Moreover, the DILG circular sets the identification of designated evacuation centers during disasters, tapping of private partners, and organizing cleanup drives like dredging and declogging.

Tabada welcomed this development, especially since the memorandum circular was done based on the advice of  PAGASA.  (FREEMAN)