DAVAO CITY (PIA)-- The head of the Davao City Risk Reduction and Management Office told Dabawenyos to drink glasses of water as the city enters the onset of the dry season.

Alfredo Baloran, head of the CDRRMO told the city residents to remain hydrated and to dodge exposure to sunlight as the weather changes from La Nina to El Nino.

He said a way to prevent heatstroke is to stay hydrated.

“Gina-recommend namo kung makita namo nga taas kaayo ang heat index is dapat ang tao dili mag-stay directly sa heat sa adlaw and keep on hydrating gyud dapat para malikayan nato ang heatstroke (We recommend if we see the heat index is very high that people will not stay directly under the heat of the sun and keep on hydrating to avoid heatstroke),” Baloran said.

He said that despite the warm weather condition, the city will continue to feel the low-pressure area like the incessant rainfall.

Baloran said the weather changes from La Nina to El Nino, but based on the projections made by PAGASA, the city will still experience rainfall.

“Bisan naa nata sa El Niño, based sa projections nga gihatag sa Pagasa, makasinati gihapon ta og localized thunderstorms so meaning naa gyud gihapo’y pag-ulan-ulan (Even if we are in El Nino based on projections given by PAGASA we will still experience localized thunderstorms so there are still rains),” he said.

Baloran warned that while the city continues to be battered by rain, thunderstorm, and hot weather, the people also need to know what to do when earthquakes occur.

He commended the participation of the local and national government, private offices, and establishment last week.

Baloran reported that despite the minor hairline cracks experienced by some schools in the city due to an earthquake last week in Davao de Oro, the City Engineer’s Office has not recommended a closure to any building.  (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)