More provinces to expect dry weather conditions due to El Nino

March 5, 2019

Zamboanga City declared a state of calamity to cushion it from the effects of a prolonged dry spell on Tuesday while farmers have begun harvesting their crops earlier than scheduled.

Councilor Jihan Edding, chairperson of the Zamboanga City Council’s Committee on Agriculture, said 55.1 hectares of rice valued at P1.2 million has been damaged due to the prolonged dry spell.

These are two of many areas in the country experiencing dry spell due to El Nino. It is a concern that is being watched carefully by the country's economic managers even as the increase in the inflation rate declined in February.

In a joint statement by the country's economic managers, they said  ''a concern that may hamper food production is the presence of El Nino, which, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), will likely continue until June 2019.''

''Around 19 provinces are expected to experience drought this year including Metro Manila,'' they said.

''Thus, the government must take pro-active measures to mitigate its adverse impacts on the agriculture sector in the immediate term and to increase its resiliency against extreme weather conditions over the medium to long term,'' they said. 

Pagasa's climate outlook report showed 22 areas will experience dry condition, 42 with dry spell, and nine provinces with drought by the end of March.

Dry condition

Luzon: Ifugao, Isabela, Nueva Viscaya, Quirino, Bulacan, Aurora, Rizal

Visayas: Guimaras, Negros Oriental, Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor, Southern Leyte

Mindanao: Bukidnon, Cmiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Compostela Valley, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Basilan, Lanao del Sur

Dry spell

Luzon: 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, Sorsogon

Visayas: Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar (Western Samar)

Mindanao: Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Tawi-tawi

  Drought

Luzon: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan

Mindanao: Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Maguindanao, Sulu

Pagasa's outlook showed that by the end of April, 42 provinces will experience dry spell while there will be an increase in areas affected by drought. By the end of June, few provinces will experience dry spell and drought. Cristina Eloisa Baclig/DMS