Baguio City temperature starts dropping

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines - Baguio and the rest of the highland Cordillera region’s signature chill is coming as temperature has began to drop especially during early mornings and late afternoons until evening.

State meteorologist Danny Galate of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) stationed in Baguio said the city's temperature readings have been running between 14 and 22 degrees Celsius.

Galate said they expect the temperature to drop down to 12 or even 11 degrees this coming week.

The temperature in Baguio and other areas in Benguet drop from November until February.

However, Galate said Baguio City's signature chill came earlier this year as the bone-tingling climate started to be felt in the last week of October.

On October 27,  Baguio’s temperature dropped to a low of 12.6 degrees Celcius.

The coldest temperature recorded in Baguio was 6.3 degrees Celcius on Jan. 8, 1961.

Galate said that while the weather bureau expects two more typhoons to hit the country by the end of the year, these weather disturbances will not affect Baguio City and the rest of the Cordillera region.

As the temperature continues to drop in the city, the regional office of the Department of Health reminded the public to be wary of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) also known as acute respiratory infection and commonly caused by common cold and influenza.

Regional health chief Dr. Amelita Pangilinan said that from January to November 23 of this year, they have recorded 3,420 ILI cases in Baguio, a slight increase compared to the 3,212 ILI cases recorded during the same period in 2012.

Pangilinan said that aside from warm clothes, the public should have a balanced diet, get enough sleep and do regular exercises to be able to fight off ILI.