Mountain barangays undergo El Niño Seminar

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Hillyland Management Board conducted seminars and handed over materials to 31 mountain barangays to prepare people for El Niño.

Leo Maglasang, executive assistant of the Office of the Mayor, said that they are preparing the needs in the mountain barangays not only for the people but also for the animals and plants.

“Gitawag ‘ni ni Mayor Michael Rama na Project sa Kinabuhi, which means kinabuhi sa hayop, kinabuhi sa tawo ug kinabuhi sa tanom,” said Maglasang. Staff of CCHMB will survey the different mountain barangays regularly.

Two weeks ago, CCHMB has already distributed barrels, hoses and other tools that will be used to carry water. They will provide more materials in the coming days, he said.

The City Agricultural Department will also survey the mountain areas in coordination with the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries with its plan to provide shelters and vaccination for the animals.

The dry season is expected to cause very low agricultural production, which alarmed CCHMB to prepare and minimize the ill effects of the weather phenomenon.

Part of the seminar was to educate the mountainfolks on how to prevent fire usually during El Niño.

“Dapat ang mga tawo ma-ingnan nga dili pataka og labay sa ilang mga basura ug dili pataka og labay sa sigarilyo to prevent fire,” Maglasang said.

CCHMB made the necessary preparations following the information from the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services  Administration (PAGASA) that the dry spell is expected to hit the country in June and may last until next year. —/NSA (FREEMAN)