The rainy season’s here

At Issue: Past experience tells us what the rainy season brings other than more than our share of rain.

Our View: The rainy season spawns many diseases–skin, gastroenteritis, strange form of flu, among others.

The Primet Agua De Abrit (first drizzle from the blue skies of paradise) must have arrived a bit late. Nevertheless, the heavy rain that we have seen in recent weeks must be a signal that the rainy season is here.

During the rainy season, the eastern skies refuse to let the Sun peak through thick cumulus clouds. Heavy overcast shuts out the usually blue skies of paradise. Out in the Philippine Seas hang fearfully dark skies that tell us there won’t be any bright summer months.

The rainy season also spawn diseases that include fungal growth on our skin (if we don’t replace wet clothes on a timely basis), gastroenteritis from drinking unboiled water or eating fish caught from polluted lagoon waters, and a good number of people downed either by the common cold or flu.

Then there’s the increase in water run-offs from paved roads that eventually find its way into the front portion of our now suspiciously dangerous “crystal clear waters”. The Division of Environmental Quality issues forewarning to the general public of the existence of two types of E.Coli from human and animal feces that are washed into our lagoon.

Fresh water builds up in marsh land in and around Lake Susupe and low lying areas up north from water flows that descend from estuaries. This natural water flow also contribute to coral road destruction like there’s no tomorrow. And so we find either DPW’s or Mayor’s Office road crews constantly paving and repaving them like some habitual roadside display of heavy equipment. The crew smiles with loud expressions on their beaming faces: “We’re Back!”

All government agencies must converge and clean up drainage systems from plastic bags that clog water flow. Happy dumping motorists must also contribute by collecting their empty cans and trash for appropriate disposal at home. Families can also help by disposing trash appropriately, including the emptying of empty containers around the house that could just as well be breeding grounds for mosquitoes. With your help, we need not suffer the consequences of neglect.

We know when a heavy rain is nearing. The fearfully dark skies usually gives a display of lightning works, followed by thunder ten seconds later, then the heavy showers. But not all is bad when the rainy season arrives: Mother Nature nourishes flora and fauna and our empty water lenses down beneath. At least we can eventually see more green plants a month or so later, plus we are guardedly assured that there won’t be any water hours in the villages. Take charge! Si Yuus Maase`!