Philippines faces threat from La Nina

Manila: After enduring long dry conditions caused by El Nino, the Philippines is now in for intense wet weather from La Nina.

According to Dr Vicente Malano, acting administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the country is expected to experience La Nina by the second half of 2016.

“The possibility of a developing La Nina is favoured during the second half of 2016. With this current state, La Nina watch is now in effect,” Malano said.

La Nina, Spanish for Little Girl, also refers to a condition where average surface sea temperatures are below -.5 C, causing areas in tropical Pacific to experience above average rainfall.

The country has endured a number of La Nina episodes, which have had disastrous effects on the country as its water drainage systems are unable to cope.

Aside from affecting the normal course of everyday life, La Nina weather events cost the lives of Filipinos due to flooding, landslides and other disasters.

Parts of tropical countries such as the Philippines have been experiencing very dry weather.

“Rainfall assessment for the month of April showed that most parts of the country received way-below-to-below-normal rainfall except for the provinces of Compostela Valley, Agusan del Sur, North Cotabato, Pangasinan, Cavite, Rizal and Metro Manila, where above-normal to near-normal rainfall were observed. Further analysis showed that 23 provinces were affected by [a] dry spell while 28 provinces, mostly from Mindanao, experienced drought conditions in April,” said Malano.

While “below-to-way-below-normal” rainfall conditions are expected over Luzon and Visayas, significant portions of Mindanao are expected to have near normal-to-above-normal rainfall conditions.

The Philippines is predominantly an agricultural country and its people chiefly rely on the water-reliant cereal rice for staple. With dry conditions caused by El Nino lingering, such a situation will be detrimental to the country’s food situation.

Earlier, the United Nations announced that it is pioneering the use of drones in the country to determine the extent of damage brought by the El Nino to farms in the province of Iloilo and map out measures to cushion the impact of a long dry season on agriculture.