Cagayan prepares early for El Niño onslaught (continued..)

In Baguio City, weather experts urged mountain hikers not to throw cigarette butts to avoid forest fires this summer.

Forest fires

Danilo Galate, senior weather specialist of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), asked hikers and residents to be more careful in dealing with fire, specifically in watershed areas such as Mt. Sto. Tomas.

PAGASA records showed that from November to December, Baguio and Benguet registered zero rainfall.

However, climate change has caused extreme changes in weather patterns in the highlands, Galate said.

While communities tap local scientists and researchers to help educate people about the impact of climate change, the government will upgrade facilities in weather forecasting, said Ryan Christopher Viado, science research specialist of the Philippine Council for Industry for Energy Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology.

Lack of knowledge

“Communities should apply the knowledge and information provided by their local scientists. [Many] are not aware of the concepts behind these technologies and research such as hazard mapping and [simple weather forecasting] gadgets,” he said.

He said people ignore gadgets like rain gauges because they do not know how to use them.

He said the government is promoting soil management and alternative fertilizers in farming areas and sustainable mangrove management in coastal areas to save crops and protect communities from storm surges.

Alternative energy sources like wind, solar, micro-hydro, ocean, biomass and landfill gas are being promoted to lessen the country’s dependence on fossil fuels that harm the environment, he said.

Viado said government scientists are also promoting crops that could withstand extreme rain or drought.

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COMMENT:
The sad fact about what is happening right now is that people need to be constantly pushed and pushed, unless something tragic happens to them. And then that's the only time they realize how gave the situation is.