BAGUIO CITY – The mercury level of the thermometer in the Summer Capital dropped three degrees lower at 12.4 degrees Celsius Friday morning, signalling the expected prevalence of much colder mornings ahead and the cooler celebration of the Yuletide season, an official of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said here.
Letty Dispo, PAGASA weather specialist, said from the usual 15 to 16 degrees Celsius normal morning temperature in the city since the summer season, the temperature in the city suddenly dropped to 12.4 degrees Celsius because of the enhanced northeast monsoon which is expected to continue to bring much colder mornings in the city until the middle of March next year.
“We will surely experience much colder mornings as the temperature is expected to further drop as the prevalence of the northeast monsoon continuous to be stronger. The colder mornings is expected to help boost the growth of our local tourism industry due to the expected influx of vacationers,” Dispo stressed.
However, she revealed areas in Benguet and some parts of Baguio that have a higher elevation have much lower temperature as the prevailing temperature in the said areas are at least 2 to 3 degrees Celsius lower than the recorded temperature.
IN Atok, Benguet where there exists a PAGASA satellite weather station, the lowest temperature recorded Monday morning was 10.4 degrees Celsius but Dispo cited much lower temperature is expected in the said areas in the coming days.
The PAGASA official cited the continuous drop in the city’s temperature is its natural pull for foreign and domestic tourists to visit the city and spend the Yuletide break which sustain the presence of the hospitality and tourism industry as tourism remains to be the lifeblood of the city’s economy.
Anthony de Leon, president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB), said a good number of the high-end hotels in the city are now reaching full occupancy because of the sudden surge in reservations from vacationers coming from the different parts of the country who want to enjoy the city’s cool and romantic weather during the Christmas and New Year vacation.
“We are ready for the expected influx of more foreign and domestic visitors. We have prepared for the expected boom in tourist arrivals this year,” de Leon stressed.
Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan said as the weather gets colder, the tourist arrivals get bigger which will speak good of the overall state of the city’s tourism industry.
He ordered the local police force to institute appropriate peacekeeping measures to protect local residents and visitors from unscrupulous individuals who are also expected to come up to the city to take advantage of the influx of people to pursue their illegal trade and victimize innocent individuals.
“We will not tolerate the presence of individuals with evil motives in our city. We will utilize our available manpower and resources to make the stay of our visitors safe and sound,” Domogan stressed.
