No frost damage, respiratory diseases on the rise
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BAGUIO CITY — While the cold spell chills this mountain city, no andap or frost occurred due to strong winds and drizzles, officials reported.
Meanwhile, Buguias, Benguet, report a rise in respiratory-related diseases: colds, flu, and made mothers queue in clinics for the check-up of their children.
The regional office of the Department of Health (DOH-CAR) said that no epidemics were reported as the city registered 7.5 degrees centigrade coldest last week on January 15.
No frost
In an interview, Atok Mayor Conception Balao said that the temperature dropped to 5 degrees centigrade in their area last week and sometime in late December 2008.
“No frost occurred as the winds are strong,” Balao said. Atok, her municipality, where the highest point is located experienced no crop damage from the very cold drop.
She adds that the cold is a natural phenomenon and assured the public that there is enough vegetables as it is a harvest time in the area.
Balao added that the worst of the cold spell brought frost that damaged their vegetable produce in 2005.
Lolita Bentres, the Benguet Provincial Agriculturist, reported that there is not much frost damage yet in the vegetable areas in the province.
Mount Pulag “frost”
Areas near the Mount Pulag, the second highest peak in the country, reportedly experienced frost on January 17.
Emerita Albas said in an interview that frost occurred in the Babadak Ranger Station in Bokod on January 17.
She added that frost ha also occurred in the area on December 11 and 12 last year around the Tabeyo Lake.
Drizzle however washed the frost causing little damage to the agriculture, particularly vegetables in the area.
She suggested that it could be good if monitoring device can be established in the area.
Respiratory-related diseases
The cold weather, which reportedly will continue up to February, has caused a rise in respiratory ailments particularly hitting the children.
In Buguias, Benguet, Arsenia Pinge said that there has been no frost damage in the area but people’s health is affected by the cold spell. The traditional bonfire is still their means to counter the cold.
Junjun Carreon of the DOH-CAR said that usual infections like cold, cough and flu are common at the moment.
“These are self-limiting diseases however, and are not serious,” he added in an interview as he pointed that there are no epidemics related to the cold spell.
Business is brisk for the local hand knitted sweaters, gloves, and bonnets.
The coldest temperature reported in the city was recorded on January 18, 1961 at 6.3 degrees centigrade. # Arthur L. Allad-iw
