Tubod, Lanao del Norte – The residents of barangays Mukas and Tabigue in the coastal town of Kolambugan, this province woke up to the screams of women and children after a very rare tornado  destroyed homes and “sari-sari” stores last March 17 at around 9 in the evening.

According to initial reports from Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), there are 48 affected families in Brgy. Mukas and 21 families from Brgy. Tabigue.

The provincial government immediately distributed relief assistance to the tornado victims.

“We already distributed 45 food packs and 12 non-food items in Mukas. We also gave 21 food packs and 2 non-food items in Brgy. Tabigue”, PSWDO Head Annabelle Mendez said.

Recent studies by Asian meteorologists reveal that there is an increasing trend in the number of tornados forming in the Philippines.  As third millennium approaches, more and more cases of tornado have been reported, occurring at an average of 4 tornadoes a month.

Actual reported and documented cases of tornadoes recently happened aside from Los Banos were in Mactan (August 8, 2008), Sultan Kudarat (June 12, 2008), Lingayen, Pangasinan (June 5, 2008), and Southern Leyte (May 21, 2008).

This increase in tornado formation has been attributed to global warming. As the air becomes warmer and warmer on land and sea, the tendency of water to evaporate becomes high. When water evaporates, rain clouds are formed and when they clash into each other, thunderclouds are produced. As the cool air from these thunderclouds start to mix with the warm air on land and sea, they begin to revolve and move, causing friction in the air thus creating tornadoes.

“We have to take global warming seriously and do our share to halt if not reverse its negative effects on our planet”, 1st District Rep. Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo said.

Fortunately, no lives were lost in the freak weather phenomenon that hit Kolambugan. VNL/PIO-LDN