“We’re in an historic drought, and that demands unprecedented action.” – Chris Hayes
We suffer because of drought, and I think we are bound to, as the saying goes. The social welfare department released the data that it has affected an estimated more than 530,000 families which is about more than 2 million in 37 provinces in more than 3,000 villages in the country, as of end of April this year.
DOMINO EFFECT
The impact of drought varies in different forms, and not only in humans, but on agriculture as well, which has a domino effect. The phenomenon brings extreme heat that reduces water supply for human consumption and irrigation for crop production. When water supply reduces, directly proportional is the reduction of food production, resulting in food insecurity that affects the physical and mental health of humans.
In agriculture, when water supply is scarce, the quality of soil deteriorates, and it increases the risk of infestations that cause crop diseases, including the ecosystem. When this happens the demand for food consumption almost doubles and all other key elements in food production, such as power, gas, and packaging materials’ prices are jacked up all at the same time. Even livestock is sacrificed, making them vulnerable to diseases that rapidly spread. Arguably the case of African swine flu is attributed to the lingering drought.
Socioeconomically, the lack of water to ensure stable agricultural production will result in high prices of basic commodities especially the basic needs such as rice, sugar, and corn, either as feed for livestock or for human consumption. In the past six months it is estimated that prices of rice have almost gone up to 50 percent, and 40 percent for sugar.
HEALTH RISKS
The risk the heat poses to humans is getting more serious. Heat indexes continue to rise resulting in occasional suspension of classes because children cannot take the heat literally, especially in public schools where the learning environment is not conducive. Warmer weather temperatures can have significant effects on human health, especially in regions like the Philippines as one of the top countries most vulnerable to natural calamities including the El Niño phenomenon.
Most common is heat exhaustion characterized by heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, and even nausea, due to excessive heat exposure. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can lead to muscle cramps, especially among adults. Worse, heat stroke, a severe condition of our body’s blood circulation and the normal regulation of body temperature fails leading to organ damage and eventual death. A few death cases of heat stroke have been reported. One case was a young male teacher in NCR. Dehydration and skin diseases are also some of the heat related health risks.
The most effective yet the most common preventive action we can do is to stay hydrated by drinking at least 8 glasses per day, but it does not come for free. Some recommendations that are not challenging to take as well are wearing loose clothes, water conservation, and avoidance of strenuous activities.
DAMAGING THE DAMAGED
El Niño’s damage to agriculture has reached P5.9 billion, according to the agriculture department, with rice as the most affected crop with a loss value of P3.1 billion, followed by corn at P1.76 billion, and high-value crops at P958 million. Western Visayas is among the top 3 regions most affected, with Mimaropa and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). I believe this amount of damage is a conservative figure.
Negros as the sugar capital of the Philippines, it is estimated that among small agrarian reform beneficiaries, the damage to sugar cane is not less than 40 percent as we speak, but with the projection that drought stretches towards mid or end of May, this projection may well be increasing.
According to PAGASA the phenomenon comes every 2 to 7 years. In 2016, the weather phenomenon brought a loss of 16 billion pesos to the country. The lingering drought brought down water supply from 40 to a maximum of 60 percent according to the irrigation authority, it contributed to the price increase of basic commodities such as rice, deteriorated the quality of soil for crop production and brought more health risks among Filipinos.
BUDGET AS MITIGATION?
Last year the President proposed an increase of almost 10 percent for the 2024 budget in anticipation of the impact of the El Nino phenomenon. This was to mitigate the impact of the drought brought by the phenomenon. But are we ready for it? Read the signs.*
