The Bacolod City government is de-clogging drainage systems and rehabilitating flood mitigation structures in preparation for the La Niña phenomenon that might develop in the second half of the year.
Representatives from the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA) held a meeting with city government officials, department heads, and representatives of government agencies at the Bacolod City Government Center on Friday, May 3, to discuss measures to mitigate the effects of La Niña.
During the meeting, PAGASA reported that La Niña will develop by June to August.
The climate pattern for this year suggests a potential delay in La Niña compared to last year’s June 2 declaration.
El Niño continues to weaken but is still causing hotter and drier conditions, PAGASA added.
PAGASA also said that rainfall with a more than 120 percent chance is expected in October and forecasted that at least two tropical cyclones may hit the country in May.
From May to October 2024 lowlands in the Visayas, including Bacolod, may experience extreme temperature of as high as 38.8 degrees Celsius and as low as 28.6 degrees Celsius, particularly in June, they added.
Among the measures the city government identified were site assessment of flood prone areas, de-clogging of drainage systems, clearing, dredging, and widening of waterways, clean-up drives, rehabilitation of flood mitigation structures like river-walls, shoreline protection, drainage system, flood gates, and off-channel reservoir;
Establishment of community-based flood early warning systems, preparedness measures for water-borne diseases, prepositioning of food and non-food items, prepositioning of responders, and inspection and rehabilitation of evacuation centers.*