Until August

The country's weather bureau has given us the possibility that the El Niño phenomenon will last until August. This means that there will be no rains in the next months, let alone clouds that will give us shade under open spaces. This means we will be facing more days of humidity. Talk about having a hot head too, under the heat of the sun.

The main problem now is to look for water sources that would give us potable water. This week, we visited the Jaclupan facility of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District and have seen that the pan of the catchment facility has already dried up. There is no more water to speak of, only puddles of mud where fishes are struggling for life. With this facility providing less and less per day, we are faced with the reality of having to control the remaining supply. This means that the hours for water will be less in the following days depending on the area.

I have never valued water this much, now that I am an adult. I used to think that the world will never run out of potable water because the ocean is such a big pool of water. I didn't understand that seawater can't be used for drinking. Desalination has become an option for MCWD but it would be too costly and we all know how high the prices of basic commodities have been. We can't afford to have the same for a very basic need such as water.

The El Niño continues to destroy the plants in the farms, the fish in the ponds and basically all that we need for food supply. It is a phenomenon that we couldn't avoid but have to deal with. We can't even blame a specific person. It could be a possible effect of global warming, yes, but we can't really point fingers now. With this phenomenon going on until August, we must also do our part in making sure that the water that we have now will last. Sure, the church has been praying for rain to come. I wish that it will work. I guess it does if we have faith.

Now is the time for local disaster units to help the water district scour places for water and assist those who are affected. Even the department of health has advised people not to stay out too long in the sun. It could be deadly, they said, as heat stroke could occur anytime.

Always make sure to have an umbrella, wear sunscreen, and drink a lot of water. Yes, sunny photos at the beach look nice but this view may be deadly at all costs.

"Whatever it takes," just like what the Avengers said to one another in trying to save the Earth, is the spirit we must all have in the midst of the El Niño. It gets scarier as the heat intensifies. I hope we are all ready for this.