4 Central Luzon provinces under dry spell

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines — Four provinces in Central Luzon are now under a dry spell amid the El Niño phenomenon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

According to the state weather bureau, the latest assessment on the phenomenon showed that the provinces of Aurora, Bataan, Zambales and Nueva Ecija are among those under a dry spell.

Others similarly affected are Abra, Isabela, Metro Manila, Occidental Mindoro, Quirino, Rizal and Negros Occidental.

Under drought conditions are Apayao, Benguet, Cagayan, Cavite, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Kalinga, La Union, Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan and Pangasinan.

The provinces of Batangas, Laguna, Masbate, Oriental Mindoro, Antique, Biliran, Capiz, Cebu, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Iloilo, Leyte, Negros Oriental, Samar, Lanao del Norte, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi are now experiencing dry condition, PAGASA’s assessment showed.

PAGASA explained that a dry spell is defined as three consecutive months of below-normal rainfall conditions (21 to 60 percent reduction from average rainfall).

A dry condition is defined as two consecutive months of below-normal rainfall conditions (21 to 60 percent reduction from average rainfall).

However, the number of affected provinces – 41, currently – is less than the 50 areas recorded based on PAGASA’s Jan. 21 assessment.

Despite the reduction, the government’s El Niño task force said it would reinforce preparedness efforts due to the strong and mature El Niño that is expected to continue this month, and is likely to persist until May.

With 14 of its 25 barangays affected by El Niño, the municipal government of Cauayan in Negros Occidental is looking into the possibility of declaring a state of calamity.

Mayor John Rey Tabujara disclosed that 127 farmers and 126 hectares of rice and sugarcane fields in both upper and coastal barangays of Cauayan were affected.

All over Negros Occidental, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturists reported that damage to rice fields has gone up to P14.4 million, affecting seven local government units (LGUs), including Cauayan, as of Feb. 12.

A total of 369.11 hectares of rice fields