DROUGHT due to the effects of the prevailing very strong El Niño is expected to affect the entire country by April, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Tuesday.
At a virtual briefing, Joanne Mae Adelino, weather specialist from PAGASA’s climate monitoring and prediction section, said that 26 areas will experience drought starting December, with numbers expected to rise to 48 in January and up to 68 in February.
“From March to April, we expect that drought is expected all over the country,” she said during a virtual climate outlook on Tuesday in Filipino.
Under drought conditions, affected areas receive way below normal rainfall for three consecutive months or below normal rainfall for five consecutive months, PAGASA said in an earlier climate advisory.
Limited rainfall is among the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, which is currently in a very strong state and is likely to persist until the first half of 2027.
In October, five areas in the country were already experiencing drought, while 11 areas experienced dry spells and 10 experienced dry conditions.
Warmer temperatures are also expected across the country during El Niño.
PAGASA urged the public and concerned agencies to implement appropriate sectoral interventions, conservation and mitigation measures, particularly water conservation, amid El Niño’s threat to the country’s water security.
The Department of Health also reminded the public to watch for symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke due to the expected higher heat index. — Edg Adrian A. Eva