It's summer again in the Philippines. It's hot - also here in Mindanao. It rains. Sometimes it pours cats and dogs. Yes, we can feel the climate change also here. Especially Region XII is highly at risk in a changing climate condition with increased rainfall and rising sea levels.
Herlita G. Caraan, National Statistical coordinator Board Region XII chief, said that more rainfall, an increase in temperature and rising sea levels would hit the area in the medium term 2020 - 2050.
In a fact sheet, NSCB Region XII warned of worse flooding, landslide and storm surges affecting hundreds of villages in the region as a result of climate change. Based on a mid-range scenario simulations by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), rainfall in Region XII was predicted to increase in 2020 by as much as 14.8 percent and 15.6 percent by 2050.
The increased rainfall was projected to happen during the north-east monsoon season (December to February) and during transition of seasons from September to November. These period will be wetter and with potential for increased flooding.
Temperatures are also expected to increase across the whole year. This is what people experience right now - and not only in Mindanao. Warmer temperatures would also result to increase risks to infectious diseases like malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever and encephalitis.
The NCSB XII report says, that areas mostly likely to be affected are coastal areas in Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, General Santos City and especially Cotabato City as 70 percent of the city's total land area is below sea level.
