In between drought and floods

“K

ABaguio-Baguio mo pa lang, Puro ka Caloocan. Eh, kung Dagupan kita,

Di nagka Ilo-ilo ka!”

I recall that nursery pun of my baptismal godson, Jemboy Bunag, on reading last Friday’s story “Dagupan City sizzles at 48.2ºC.”

When the heat index shot up to 48.2 degrees Celsius last week, PAGASA authorities warned residents against heat stroke.

PAGASA explains “heat index” as the “apparent” temperature or what humans feel as the temperature affects their body. (It is usually higher by two to three degrees Celsius from the actual air temperature):

32 to 41 degrees Celsius calls for “Extreme Caution” (“heat cramps and heat exhaustion are possible” and “could result to heat stroke”).

• 41 to 54 degrees Celsius means “Danger” (“heat cramps and heat exhaustion” and probably “heat stroke”).

• Over 54 degrees Celsius means “Extreme Danger” (“heat stroke imminent”).

Our human body must be evolving to be able to adapt to the warming weather. My generation got sent home from school when the heat wave hit above 33 degrees Celsius. (That was before the advent of air-conditioning in high-end schoolrooms.)

When our parents treated us to first-run theaters (Ideal, Times, Avenue, Lyric, Capitol), we came with sweaters because of air-conditioning.

We looked forward to summers to enjoy mangoes and delectable treats and trips to Baguio or far-away holidays.

Next picture — swimming pools dry up when populace drink up the water.

***

Good news: “DPWH to take advantage of the summer season for ongoing projects” — News item. DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said that road projects are expected to roll out this summer to take advantage of the dry season. “Dry season is advantageous to our contractors,” he added brimming with great expectations. That’s hoping the summer heat doesn’t take its toll ...because 45 degrees Celsisus under the shade is conducive to siesta.

***

“Power prices to go up – DOE” — News item. Electric bills will increase next month due to the string of yellow alerts that has been straining the Luzon grid in recent days.

In the first week of April, the country’s biggest power grid plunged into “yellow alert” (lack of power reserves condition for four days) due to unplanned power outages and de-rating of power plants.

DOE said this can lead to power rate hikes. The situation could only be softened, depending on the sourcing of power supply of the servicing distribution utilities – including the provision for replacement power of those generating units that suffered unplanned outages.

Assuming we could universally get uninterrupted power, the rich can afford rate increases; but the poor are born to this world to live by the sweat of their brows.

*** Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol proposed tapping alternative water sources to address the depleting water supply in Metro Manila This assumes that water won’t be needed by crops all year round.

Piñol said we can tap irrigation water from dams in Luzon. He pointed to Angat, Ipo, and La Mesa water reservoirs. He cited especially Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija, which irrigates more than 80,000 hectares of farmland in Nueva Ecija and other Central Luzon provinces. It has peak capacity of 2.3 trillion liters of water.

This makes Nueva Ecija the only year-round water provident province in the Philippines. Pantabangan Dam is a man-made miracle born out of stubborn faith and gumption. Many parts in the country suffer drought and declared a state of emergency. But driving two hours on the Nueva Ecija highways, it is a sight to behold endless fields of green palay. We should ask the water diviner, Oscar Violago, where else that magic spell might be replicated.

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