PAGASA discourages bottled water hoarding amid Super El Niño threat

State weather bureau PAGASA on Sunday advised the public to avoid hoarding bottled water amid the threat of the looming record-breaking El Niño.

"Definitely, water conservation 'yung isa sa mga kailangan gawin. 'Wag tayo mag-hoard. Maling gawain 'yan dahil makakaapekto 'yan sa general supply natin," said PAGASA weather specialist Dan Villamil in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB.

(Definitely, water conservation is one of the things we need to do. Let's not hoard. That is wrong practice because that will affect our general supply.)

PAGASA earlier said that the El Niño could last until March or even June next year.

Around 40 provinces are expected to experience lesser rainfall during the dry spell and drought. Once January comes, it is expected that this number could leap to 80.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), on the other hand, said that supply of bottled water in groceries remain adequate.

"The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) assures consumers that the current supply of bottled water remains adequate and that there is no need to hoard. The Department will intensify price monitoring and continue to coordinate closely with manufacturers and distributors to ensure a steady supply in the market," the department said in a statement.

The DTI also said that it is monitoring complaints on alleged overpricing of plastic drums, water containers, and other related commodities.

El Niño occurs when sea surface temperature rises, said PAGASA.

"Usually, kapag mas mataas than the normal 'yung sea surface temperature or temperature ng karagatan, ibig sabihin may El Niño. Kung mas malamig naman, La Niña," said Villamil.

(Usually, when the sea surface temperature or the ocean temperature is higher than normal, it means there is El Niño. If it's colder, it's La Niña.)

Further, El Niño is characterized by lesser rains.

PAGASA said that among preparations that could be done in the prolonged drought is planting drought-resistant crops.

"Possibly puwede nating gawin, especially sa agriculture sector, 'yung pagtatanim ng mga crops na drought-resistant, na hindi masyadong dependent sa tubig," said Villamil.

(What we can possibly do, especially in the agriculture sector, is planting crops that are drought-resistant, those that aren't too dependent on water.) —KG, GMA News