Drought due this month; El Niño damage tops

At least 30 provinces are expected to be ravaged by drought this month while some 20 other areas likely experience dry spells which the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) attributed to a “strong El Niño’’.

Meantime, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported that the extreme weather pattern has so far damaged R4.77 billion worth of crops as more production losses were reported during the first two months of the year.

The state weather bureau said areas most likely to be affected by drought are provinces in Mindanao which have already been gripped by massive crop damage since last year.

Literal hotspots These areas include Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Compostela Valley, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, Basilan, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

PAGASA said that drought is also expected to hit Rizal, Palawan, Catanduanes, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar and Western Samar.

Drought is defined by PAGASA as three consecutive months of “way below normal” – more than 60 percent below average – rainfall.

A dry spell, or three consecutive months of “below normal” rainfall, is expected to hit Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Sorsogon, Bohol, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, and Surigao del Norte.

Dry conditions or two consecutive months of below normal rainfall is expected to affect Quirino, Cebu, Biliran, Leyte and Southern Leyte.

The PAGASA climate outlook issued earlier revealed that El Niño is expected to gradually weaken by May.

Mega damage Agriculture Undersecretary for Field Operations Emerson Palad said that from January to February, an additional R1.344 billion in production losses were reported by DA regional offices.

This is on top of the R3.426 billion reported production losses incurred in 2015.

“About two-thirds of total damage value incurred in the past two months came from the rice sector amounting to R864.37 million. Meanwhile, corn losses was estimated at PhP477.49 million,” Palad said. (with a report from PNA)