THE weather phenomenon in Northern Mindanao is affecting
travel and tourism business in the region. In Butuan City last January 7, 2012, a commercial plane carrying the party of Vice President Jejomar C. Binay return to Manila in spite of entering already the Butuan air space.
Zero visibility was the reason. Low pressure area somewhere in the Pacific was pulling the cold air from the enter tropical convergence zone in Northern Luzon to the eastern part of Mindanao. The new weather pattern brings thick clouds and rains to the region. Early morning, heavy fogs envelopes Cagayan de Oro City.
Historically, In January of 2011, the total flights cancellations in Cagayan de Oro from Manila and Davao recorded 13 flights of the A320 types of aircrafts that were either diverted to Mactan Cebu or returned to Manila.
Smaller QA-400 air planes originating from Cebu managed to sneak in and came in delayed after seating for hours at the Mactan Airport waiting for clearance from the Cagayan de Oro control tower. Airline flights cancellations last year brings in losses to both airlines and destinations. The airline company in terms of fuel and back loads for their return flights to Manila. While the destinations, in terms of hotel revenues and transport business.
It also makes opportunities slip on the hands of businessmen. The total losses if quantified will amount to millions of pesos of failed transactions creating an impact to the local economy as a result of the slowdown of business.
The weather cycle is repeating this year with more powerful gusty winds that could develop into a tropical depression. A tropical depression, we all know, is a probable disaster that could bring death and destructions to government infrastructures and private properties.
Weather disturbance is not only inherent to Northern Mindanao. It is common to Northern Luzon and to the Southern Bicol region. Typhoons hit us an average of 22 cyclones per year. Flooding and continues rains even occurs in Central Mindanao in spite of the high mountain ranges that protects the fertile valleys. No one is safe anymore from the wrath of the weather. The disaster brought by Typhoon “Sendong” is just one of the painful examples. There could be more disasters in the future?
Some government officials were quick to align their strategies of governance. A weather climate mitigation summit is called for by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel that will be funded by the government. The government agencies that are involved like the DENR, the DOST, Department of Agriculture and the DILG are expected to be at the forefront. In fact all government agencies and local government units must be involved to delineate their roles in saving life and protecting the economy.
Many government officials are also callous and insensitive to climate change disasters.
In Cagayan de Oro City a maverick Alderman sponsored a resolution to stop the hydraulic mining activities in the upper Barangays that empty its tributaries to the Iponan River. But before he could raise his arguments, his motion was voted out. Of course, he belongs to the minority party, what do we expect?
In politics, it’s wheeling and dealing. Scratch my back and I will scratch yours. Never mind if the residents of Pagatpat, Iponan were in rooftop flood water. Never mind if the adjacent communities, Bloomingdale, Westfield, Virginia Homes and Coca-Cola Village were in waist deep mud, all coming from the over flowing Iponan River. What causes the siltation of the Iponan River?
The Barangay Chairman himself, Capt. Anthony Brilleta and his Barangay Council passed a resolution after the 2009 flooding, urging City Hall to intervene and stop the Hydraulic Gold Mining in the upper delta of the Barangay Iponan. Did City Hall care?
Ped T. Quiamjot is one of the brilliant columnists of a local newspaper in Cagayan de Oro City and currently the General Manager of Pryce Plaza Hotel Cagayan de Oro. His column talks on various issues and concerns affecting the business sector and tourism industry.
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