ILOILO – This province is among the 36 provinces that could experience dry spell by December. Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said the provincial government has interventions to minimize the effects on the agriculture sector.
The interventions include allotting a budget for the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) to maintain and improve the operation of small-scale irrigation systems that serve as primary water sources for farmers.
“Embedded na sia sa mga programs naton, ang aton budget sa small scale irrigation, and even the assistance that we give to farmers under the Provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Program,” said Defensor.
When the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced the possibility of an El Niño phenomenon until the first quarter of 2024, Defensor said the PAO and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) immediately made plans which included raising public awareness on water conservation.
There is also the aggressive implementation of water system programs in barangays without access to the Metro Iloilo Water District, particularly in island barangays.
Last week, Defensor went to Danao-Danao Island in Barangay Polopiña, Concepcion town for the groundbreaking of the P12.845-million Solar-Powered Potable Water System. The project is expected to benefit 854 individuals from 213 households.
Aside from Iloilo, two provinces in Region 6 — Guimaras and Antique — were on PAGASA’s list of localities that could experience the dry spell.
“For December, 36 provinces will experience a dry spell. Drought for two provinces,” PAGASA climate monitoring chief Ana Solis said.
Based on PAGASA’s forecast, the areas that may experience dry spell are as follows: Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao, Mountain Province, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Metro Manila, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Palawan, Spratly Islands, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes in Luzon; and Antique, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Leyte in Visayas.
Meanwhile, Southern Leyte and Camarines Norte may experience drought by the end of December.
PAGASA senior weather specialist Rusy Abastillas said 11 to 14 tropical cyclones are still expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) from July until the end of the year.
Abastillas said three or four tropical cyclones may arrive in July.
The number of tropical cyclones will be reduced to two or three each in August, September, and October. By November and December, one or two more may enter PAR, he added. (With a report from www.manilastandard.net)/PN
