The provinces in the Cordillera are among the 66 areas in the country that may experience dry condition, dry spell, and drought until the end of the year due to El Niño.
In its advisory issued on July 4, the Department of Agriculture-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Section (DA-DRRMC) said 28 areas in the country may experience dry condition – three in Luzon, five in the Visayas, and 20 in Mindanao.
Meanwhile, dry spell is looming in 36 areas – 32 in Luzon and four in the Visayas.
It added Camarines Norte and Southern Leyte may experience drought.
“El Niño increases the likelihood of below normal rainfall conditions, which could bring negative impacts (such as dry spells and droughts) in some areas of the country. However, over the western part of the country, above normal rainfall conditions during the southwest monsoon season (habagat) may also be expected,” it added.
Abra, Batanes, and Cagayan in Luzon; Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Bohol, Cebu, and Siquijor in Visayas; Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao de Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, Soutj Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Basilan, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi in Mindanano are seen to experience dry spell.
Places in Luzon and Visayas that may be potentially affected by dry spell include Metro Manila, Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao, Mountain Province, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon; and Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Palawan, Spratly Islands, Camarines Sur and Catanduanes in Luzon and Antique, Guimaras, Iloilo and Leyte in Visayas.
It added a potential dry spell may be seen in Agusan del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur by the end of October.
Dry spell is defined as three consecutive months of below normal rainfall condition (21 to 60 percent reduction from average rainfall) while dry condition is defined as two consecutive months of below normal rainfall condition (21 to 60 percent reduction from average rainfall).
Drought is defined as three consecutive months of way below normal rainfall condition (60 percent reduction from average rainfall).
On July 4, the Department of Science and Technology-Pagasa raised its ENSO Alert and Warning System from El Niño Alert to El Niño Advisory.
It said El Niño is present in the tropical Pacific and will persist until the first quarter of 2024, showing signs of strengthening in the coming months. – PNA
