19 Cebu areas vulnerable to drought

Local

A TOTAL of 19 areas in Cebu have been identified as vulnerable to drought this August as temperatures may rise above normal despite generally near-normal rainfall, scientists reported.

Latest reports from Project SARAI of the Department of Science and Technology-Central Visayas (DOST-7) showed that three localities in Cebu may experience very hot temperatures this month.

These are the northwestern towns of Asturias, Tabuelan, and Tuburan.

Sixteen other municipalities are also projected to have moderately hot temperatures.

These are the towns of Alcantara, Aloguinsan, Argao, Badian, Barili, Carmen, Danao City, Dumanjug, Minglanilla, Moalboal, Oslob, Pinamungahan, Ronda, San Fernando, Sibonga and Toledo City.

The remaining Cebu municipalities and cities, including the three largest cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu City, are projected to have near-normal temperatures.

Project SARAI stands for Smarter Approaches to Reinvigorate Agriculture as an Industry in the Philippines.

It is a research and development program that uses science and technology to help farmers adapt to climate change and improve crop production.

Led by the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and funded by DOST, the program focuses on enhancing the resilience and productivity of nine key crops, including rice, corn, and coffee.

The latest assessment comes as Central Visayas continues to contend with increased climate risks associated with the 2026 El Niño outlook.

In Bohol, meanwhile, 27 municipalities are forecast to experience moderately hot temperatures in August.

These are Alicia, Antequera, Balilihan, Batuan, Bilar, Calape, Candijay, Carmen, Catigbian, Clarin, Corella, Cortes, Dagohoy, Danao, Getafe, Guindulman, Inabanga, Mabini, Maribojoc, Panglao, Pilar, Sagbayan, San Isidro, San Miguel, Sevilla, Sikatuna and Tubigon.

The rest of Bohol’s local government units are projected to have near-normal temperatures.

Despite the elevated temperatures, the forecast shows near-normal rainfall across both Cebu and Bohol.

However, it warned that higher temperatures could increase evapotranspiration, the combined loss of water through evaporation and plant transpiration, and reduce soil moisture, particularly in agricultural areas.

The outlook also described both Cebu and Bohol provinces as “vulnerable to drought.”

Particularly for Cebu, Project SARAI noted that the combination of near-normal rainfall and higher temperatures could increase the likelihood of drought conditions developing, particularly in areas where agricultural activities are sensitive to heat and moisture loss.(RBE)