The cold spell, the severe cold weather, the arctic blast, the massive winter storm, the dangerous levels of wind chill have made people around the world wonder – what on earth is happening to this planet of ours? Are we about to enter a glacial period? Or is this an effect caused by climate change?
Last year the Philippines hit the world record of having the strongest typhoon ever to hit the planet – Typhoon Yolanda. We also had other typhoons that brought forceful winds along its path not to mention the earthquakes. Now we fear the hot summer sun in a few weeks time.
Goodbye cold, hello sun! Welcome home Meralco! This time we will surely feel the effect of the added cost on our electrical bills. I truly hope everyone in the power industry can find a solution to the problem so that we don’t have to suffer. Electricity has become a necessity. It’s like water. We need a good supply of power but we also need a fair deal.
Anyway, going back to the cold weather. This was due to the northeast monsoon or “hanging amihan†that is blowing southeast from China to the Philippines. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced that the country will continue to experience this weather until mid-February.
As we enjoy this ‘stateside’ weather, let us not also forget that many of our farmers continue to suffer the brunt of this spell. Vegetables crops have frozen and the livestock industry has suffered. This is not good for producers nor is it for consumers. It only means that food prices will increase. The death this month of 114 farm animals in Negros Occidental due to hypothermia has caused P912,290 in losses to the poultry and livestock industry.
Provincial veterinarian Renante Decena said the animal deaths were recorded in twenty-four barangays in 12 towns and cities from January 2 to 27. Of the affected animals, forty-nine were sheep, thirty-eight swine, nine goats, nine poultry, seven cattle and three carabaos.
The animals were in the towns of Salvador Benedicto, Manapla, Toboso, Murcia, Valladolid, San Enrique and Moises Padilla; and the cities of Sagay, Siplalay, Himamaylan, Cadiz and La Carlota. Decena said hypothermia was observed at 16 to 20 degrees Celsius with windy and rainy conditions. The animals showed symptoms of pneumonia like coughing and chills. It has also affected Cebu. Over 50 cows and carabaos have reportedly died in mountain villages and towns in Cebu city.
Benguet province is suffering lost in their vegetable and flower industry having the coldest temperature recorded at 9.5 degrees Celsius. The months of January and February make the mid-harvest season for the highland vegetable farmers. Now the frost has become a major threat to vegetables grown in the province. Vegetable farmers have tried to save their crops but the effects of the frost have already created some damage. Other farmers have avoided planting vegetables in areas that are prone to freezing while some have chosen to grow plant commodities that are able to withstand the frost. Some farmers opted to harvest (before the cold spell) their vegetables and sell them at a lower price. Generally, farmers did not foresee the extreme cold weather just like typhoons that hit the country every now and then without proper detection. In a way our government needs to realize that they need to take an active part in warning the people. By doing so, we can always be prepared.
The cold weather may have positive results on the tourism industry in Baguio but it also has another downside particularly on health. A report from the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau-Cordillera Autonomous Region said that the cold weather can exacerbate air quality in Baguio and other parts of the Philippines. I guess this is why there have been many reported cases of asthma attacks not to mention upper respiratory tract infection cases this season.
The coldest temperature in Metro Manila to date was recorded last January 26 at 15.8 degrees Celsius. Baguio City recorded its lowest temperature last January 19 at 8.1 degrees Celsius.
Countries in the temperate zones obviously experienced extreme cold weather as well. The polar vortex that swept across the North American continent early this year brought with it massive snowfall and violent winds that sent America shivering through a record cold spell.
The arctic blast came straight from the North Pole bringing a “polar vortex†to the United States and Canada. This set record low temperatures making it the coldest, most dangerous blast of polar air in decades. Thousands of flights were cancelled as fuel supplies froze, several power interruptions occurred, travel warnings were made, schools and businesses were closed for several days.
In Sofia, Bulgaria, heavy snow and strong winds claimed lives. This harsh weather left dozens of villages in the eastern half of the Balkan country without electricity and water. Hundreds of schools remain closed and the main Black Sea port of Varna was shut because of high winds.
The Philippines is one of 12 countries that is most at risk due to climate change. While we rejoice and welcome a cold breeze, we must also seriously consider the risk it poses to food productivity, health and livelihood.
High-risk groups needing special attention during cold weather are: the elderly, children (who lose heat faster due to their higher body surface/weight ratio), people with ischemic diseases (mainly heart disease and stroke), and people with chronic respiratory diseases or asthma.
Severe weather conditions have dramatic consequences in different parts of the world in recent years. Government institutions at all levels should develop strategies, enhance crisis-management capabilities by learning from recent events, to lessen the future impact of extreme weather conditions to health, animals, plants and the environment in general.
I love the cold weather no doubt about that. But if it gets too cold, in an uncontrollable way – that’s scary. The unpredictable weather pattern around the world is a serious concern.