Nueva Ecija, Cavite hit by drought due to El Niño — PAGASA

While authorities are bracing for the brunt of the El Niño phenomenon next year, state weather bureau PAGASA said Wednesday that Nueva Ecija and Cavite are already experiencing drought due to the climate phenomenon.

The weather bureau's Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section reported this after monitoring three months of way below normal rainfall conditions in the two provinces, according to a report on Super Radyo dzBB.

PAGASA also found that 25 other provinces and areas in the country— mostly in Luzon including Metro Manila—are already experiencing a dry spell.

According to a recent assessment bulletin on the Pagasa website, way below normal rainfall conditions are present if the average rainfall in an area is reduced by more than 60%.

Meanwhile, an area is under a dry spell if way below normal rainfall conditions are monitored for two consecutive months, or below normal rain fall conditions (21% to 60% reduction) for three consecutive months.

Dry conditions in 5 provinces

The dzBB report added that the provinces of Abra, Batanes, Bohol, Bukidnon, and Misamis Oriental have experienced dry conditions, or below normal rainfall conditions for two consecutive months.

PAGASA announced the start of El Niño last July, while the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) expects its effects to last until at least April 2024.

Earlier this week, Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said at least 65 provinces in the country could experience drought by next year.

"Based on recent conditions, moderate to severe drought conditions are likely from February to May 2024. And by end of May, there would be 77% of the provinces of the country will have potential for drought that would be around 65 provinces and 7% potential for dry spell or around six provinces," Solidum said at a press briefing.

"And because of this, we need to further intensify our efforts to make sure that we are ready for this especially on the various fields that were already mentioned like health, water, agriculture, sanitation, and of course, peace and order; and we also need to involve everyone in this effort," he added. — Sherilyn Untalan/ VDV, GMA Integrated News