MANILA, Philippines – Several areas in the country are experiencing the impact of a weak El Niño.
In Metro Manila, residents carrying all kinds of water containers are patiently queuing up just to catch the fire brigades’ water rations, even spending five hours or more or even overnight.
This is because water supply in La Mesa Dam is quickly drying up and augmentations from Angat and Ipo Dams are still under negotiations.
The effects of El Niño are something that concern not only the farmers but almost all households in the metropolis and the provinces.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Wednesday (March 13) announced 41 provinces may experience dry spell by the end of March while several provinces may experience drought.
Dry spell, according to PAGASA, is characterized by three consecutive months of below normal rainfall conditions (usually 21 to 60 percent below average) or two consecutive months of below 60 percent from average rainfall.
Areas which may experience dry spell are Abra, Benguet, Kalinga, Apayao, Mountain Province, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Metro Manila, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon.
Drought, meanwhile, is more severe as it is characterized by three consecutive months of below 60 percent rainfall reduction or five long months of below normal rainfall.
Areas that may be affected by drought by the end of March are Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Maguindanao, and Sulu.
Likewise, 22 areas may observe dry condition or two consecutive months of below normal (21 percent to 60 percent reduction from average) rainfall conditions.
These are Ifugao, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Bulacan, Aurora, Rizal, Guimaras, Negros Oriental, Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor, Southern Leyte, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Compostela Valley, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Basilan, and Lanao del Sur.
By end of May, 33 areas may experience drought including Pangasinan, Bataan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Metro Manila, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Palawan, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Misamis Occidental, and Dinagat Islands. -This story was first published on Untvweb.com, “9 provinces to experience drought – Pagasa”.
