4 CL provinces face El Niño effects
Four provinces in Central Luzon are now experiencing the effects of El Niño or the dry spell, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
Pampanga is now among 23 provinces affected by drought while Bataan, Nueva Ecija and Tarlac are experiencing a dry spell.
The other provinces are Abra, Agusan del Norte, Apayao, Basilan, Benguet, Bohol, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Kalinga, La Union, Lanao del Norte, Maguindanao, Misamis Occidental, Mountain Province, Saranggani, South Cotabato, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay.
The dry spell is also felt in the provinces of Agusan del sur, Albay, Batanes, Batangas, Biliran, Bukidnon, Cavite, Cebu, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Lanao del Sur, Leyte, Masbate, Misamis Oriental, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Northern Samar, Rizal, Samar, Siquijor, Sorsogon, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur.
Earlier, PAGASA said that drought occurs if the rainfall amount falls below normal (or more than 60 percent reduction) in 3 consecutive months; while dry spell is three consecutive months of below normal rainfall condition at 21-60 percent from average rainfall.
To mitigate the effects of El Niño, the Department of Agriculture (DA) in the region said measures had been put in place including constant coordination with the National Irrigation Administration (NAI) for better management of agricultural waters.
Farmers had also been informed, and educated on water-saving techniques such as synchronous planting, which makes irrigation more efficient.