BY PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter
MANILA – The El Niño phenomenon could soon hit Western Visayas, said the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
Western Visayas is the largest cane-producer in the country.
It also ranks third in rice production.
Sen. Grace Poe said she is worried about the dry spell’s impact on agricultural production.
“El Niño may drive the prices of prime agricultural commodities up as production plummets,” said Poe in filing Senate Resolution No. 866 that calls for an investigation on, among others, the government’s preparations.
The dry spell will also affect the Cordillera and Bicol regions this month, said Pagasa.
El Niño is expected to last until the first quarter of 2015.
Aside from the grains sector, tourism will also be affected due to the problem in the delivery of water, said Poe.
“Water rationing looms if the reduced amount of rainfall continues to take its toll on major water reservoirs and conservation policies are not in place,” said Poe.
The Philippines also experienced prolonged drought in 1997 and 1998. Damage to agriculture reached P3 billion.
Sen. Nancy Binay filed a separate resolution seeking an investigaton on the possible water crisis.
Water levels at the Angat Dam, which supplies four billion cubic meters of water daily to Metro Manila, have dropped, said Binay, citing a report of Maynilad Water Services Inc.
“The Senate should look into the matter with utmost importance due to the fact that water is a basic human necessity and shortage will inflict negtive effects on the daily lives of thousands of Filipinos living in Metro Manila,” said Binay./PN
