Baguio temperature falls to 9.6; Metro Manila hits 18.5

MANILA, Philippines - The temperature in Baguio City has dropped further to 9.6 degrees Celsius, the local branch of weather bureau PAGASA said on Wednesday.

The new reading erased Tuesday's 9.8 degrees Celsius as the lowest recorded since the beginning of the cold season in 2010, based on PAGASA's records.

The coldest temperature in the city was recorded at 6.3 degrees Celsius on January 18, 1961.

Because of the dropping temperature in the country's summer capital, even local residents who are used to Baguio City's cold weather have put on heavy jackets and ski masks.

More residents have also fallen ill with cold, cough and fever because of the weather.

Officials at the Baguio City General Hospital said 10 to 15 people visit the hospital daily due to cold, cough and fever.

They said majority of the patients are children. Hospital staff said at least 50 children have been diagnosed with upper respiratory infection, and 21 children are down with pneumonia.


Metro Manila temperature

PAGASA, meanwhile, said the coldest temperature recorded in Metro Manila was last Wednesday at 18.5 degrees Celsius.

It said cold weather also prevails in most of Northern Luzon areas, including Batanes and Tuguegarao.

PAGASA's chief weather forecaster Robert Sawi said the cold weather may continue until the second week of February.

"Tatatagal pa ang taglamig hanggang kalagitnaan ng Pebrero kaya kailangan ingatan ang kalusugan," Sawi said. – Reports from Butch Mendizabal, ABS-CBN Baguio and Sol Aragones, ABS-CBN