Hotter days ahead

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The government has been raising awareness and concern that the next several months will be hotter than usual. The months from November to February are usually cold and rainy but not this year and the first months of 2016.

There are already programs intended to mitigate the damage that the El Niño phenomenon, the name given to the time of the year of long dry spell will bring. These programs are costly and experience with previous long dry and hot months showed the government does not have the kind of money for facilities that are needed to prevent damage to agriculture and husbandry.

People hear about climate change but this concept has not really penetrated into the consciousness of the common people that we still see the wasteful habits.

Creating the means to reduce the impact of droughts needs a lot of time and money. The usual call for cloud seeding appears to be modern but in reality it is hardly accurate. Clouds move fast or slow as nature dictates and rain water that is induced does not actually fall where it is most needed.

There are only a few real and long term solutions. First is to increase our forest cover. Trees store water and release them slowly over time.

The second is a network of water canals or drainage system that brings water to where it is needed but this system also depends on how much water flows from the mountain springs.

The third is a water impounding system that traps water during the rainy season and stores it in man-made lakes. This can include dams, large and small. Water from this source is released through the irrigation system.

People are asked to be frugal in the use of water or to conserve water within their homes. Multiplied several thousand times water conserved in household will at least insure that houses have water for their own use.

There are many ways for the people to prepare for the long drought but, so far, the warning of the government has not created a sense of urgency. We are used to having water coming down from the sky. Government effort in public education in this directionshould be tripled.*