Preparing for the rainy days

Ben Contreras

NO matter how brief, no matter how little, it’s still the rain we longed to have.

For two nights it rained, perhaps not enough to quench the thirst of cracking earth in this part of the world but good enough for a start and a good sign for the days to come.

It didn’t rain in Libertad, Misamis Oriental the first night but last night it did. A rainwater harvester is now in the drawing board and should be done in a week. This will provide the needed water for the farm animals.

I bought four young turkeys the other day and they have joined the rest of the farm animals: ducks, geese, bantam, basilan and kabir chickens. It was fun watching them frolic in one big tub of water.

The work on our water system there would soon commence. Thanks to barangay chairman Alex Namucot who recently won a seat in the council of Libertad. When it is done, neighbors are welcome to enjoy free water as part of the “bayanihan” spirit.
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The fear of an avenging La Niña is in the air, from great dryness to too much rainfall. Are we prepared for this? Has the city government taken the necessary steps to make people safe? The answers will be provided when the rain comes in all its mighty force.

This will also test the newly built bridge along CM Recto Avenue facing Limketkai Mall and the stateun Must. It it fails, then blame it on the design.

The long dry spell offered the opportunity to prepare for the rainy days as floods are wont to happen. This responsibility falls on the shoulders of our local government and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

People are equally responsible for not destroying our surroundings through illegal activities or wanton and irresponsible disposal of garbage that block our waterways.

Lest we forget, people should be taught about the impact of Climate Change. Other countries have successfully harnessed renewable energies to answer for their power requirements. A solar project successfully provided power beyond their needs. Wind, solar, hydro and the latest of which is wave or sea current.

Without corruption, these renewable energies can be very possible and doable no matter the cost. Let us dispense coal and others that are not environment-friendly.

After the drought and the forthcoming rainy days, expect intermittent blackouts. Cepalco will again be recipient of complaints but let us also understand the technical side of it.

It’s like going through hunger for weeks and suddenly, you have food and eat like a glutton. That will certainly upset your stomach. And that is what happened to some Cepalco facilities.

I had my own beef with Cepalco before. But this time, we need to understand. After all, they’re not going to take this problem sitting down. People of Cepalco need light and power, too.