The state weather bureau on Saturday reminded the public to take the El Niño weather phenomenon seriously, as its effects would be felt more in the remaining months of the year.
Annaliza Solis, climatologist and senior weather specialist of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), said the mild to moderate El Niño that the country was experiencing may eventually become strong in the last quarter of 2015 up to the first quarter of 2016.
“Dapat seryosohin hindi lamang ng national government kundi pati ng mga ordinaryo nating kababayan ang naka-ambang problema dulot ng El Niño phenomenon,” Solis said over Radyo Inquirer 990AM.
“Noong 2009 to 2010, moderate El Niño po iyon. Pero itong 2015, pwede nating ihambing sa 1997 to 1998 na pinakamatinding strong El Niño na naranasan natin ang epekto,” she added.
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Citing Pagasa’s latest forecast, Solis said a lot of provinces across the country may experience dry condition, dry spell, or drought until December this year, which translated to inadequate amount of rainfall.
“In general po kapag may El Niño ang impact po sa atin ay warm and dry. So kapag nagkakaroon po tayo ng strong El Niño, magkakaroon tayo ng kakulangan o kabawasan sa tubig ulan,” Solis said.
“Base sa aming pag-aaral aabot sa 60 percent reduction sa ulan ang mararanasan ng malaking bahagi ng Pilipinas umpisa sa huling apat na buwan ng 2015,” she added.
Dry condition may be felt in Apayao and Cagayan area in Luzon and four provinces in Mindanao, namely Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, and Lanao del Sur. Around 22 provinces in Luzon, five in the Visayas including Bohol, Siquijor, and Samar provinces, and eight in Mindanao may also experience dry spell from October to December, while no less than 20 provinces may suffer drought.
But Solis said the forecast may still change over the coming months if there would be significant developments.
El Niño, a phenomenon which causes unusually heavy rains in some parts of the world and drought elsewhere, results from a warming in sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific.
Solis also urged the public to take “mitigating measures” ahead of time, such as water conservation.
“Kailangan po ay nationwide conservation ng tubig. Kahit wala pang El Niño ay magtipid pa rin po tayo ng tubig, para magamit pa rin po natin ng wasto ang ating mga fresh water,” she said. “Kami po ay nakikipag-coordinate sa lahat ng multi-sectoral government agencies kasama ang mga private sectors at sila rin po ay kusa nang nakikipagtulungan.” Yuji Vincent Gonzales/RC