27-3-2024 (MANILA) Renato Solidum, the Secretary of Philippine Science and Technology, reaffirmed the country’s commitment to mitigating the effects of the El Nino weather phenomenon, even as it gears up to face the contrasting La Nina weather pattern. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Solidum outlined the ongoing challenges and future projections.
Solidum revealed that according to data from the Department of Science and Technology, as of Sunday, 37 provinces nationwide have been grappling with drought conditions, classified as “meteorological drought,” with 17 provinces experiencing dry spells and 13 facing dry conditions.
Despite El Nino’s weakening grip, Solidum cautioned that its impact would persist from the upcoming month through June. Moreover, there’s a significant likelihood of La Nina occurring, estimated at 62 percent probability between June and August this year.
Elaborating on the forecast, Solidum explained that historically, the pre-development phase of La Nina typically witnesses below-normal rainfall. This suggests a potential delay in the onset of the rainy season, compounding the effects alongside the lingering El Nino phenomenon.
Solidum remarked, “Reflecting on the impacts of El Nino since October last year, we’ve observed several provinces enduring dry spells. However, from March onwards, the number of affected provinces has steadily risen, indicating a worsening situation.”
He continued, “Therefore, we anticipate the repercussions of El Nino to persist into April, with 48 provinces forecasted to face drought and 24 to experience dry spells. By May, these figures are expected to escalate, with 54 provinces bracing for drought and 10 for dry spells.”
The Department of Agriculture in the Philippines reported that the damage inflicted by the El Nino-induced dry spell and drought on the country’s agriculture has surpassed 1.75 billion pesos, approximately equivalent to 31 million U.S. dollars.
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