Pagasa Visayas Urges Public to Prepare for La Niña as Rains Start to Fall in Cebu

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) Visayas has advised the public to prepare for heavy rains when the La Nina weather phenomenon sets in as rains start to fall in Cebu on Sunday and Monday.

Engr. Oscar Tabada, chief weather specialist of Pagasa Mactan, said there is a 75 percent chance La Niña will extend to the first quarter of 2017.

Some 19 typhoons are expected to hit the country from July to October.

Tabada said the current El Niño is weakening in the tropical Pacific but its effects will continue until June.

He added the impact of La Niña will affect water resources, agriculture, health and the environment.

Extreme events associated with La Niña include floods and landslides, among others.

He said people should take care of their surroundings, especially those living in landslide- and typhoon-prone areas.

“The government cannot deal with this problem alone. It has already too much in its hands. So we have to cooperate and do our part,” he said.

Tabada said they will issue an “Early Warning System” before La Niña strikes the country.

He added one of the solutions to lessen the impact of calamities is to plant more trees, and he encouraged the public to do this.

Based on Pagasa’s rainfall assessment, the normal onset of rainfall started in the second half of May while the actual onset will start in June.

However, 46 percent of provinces in the country will likely experience drought by the end of this month.

The number will drop steadily until September, with only two percent experiencing drought.

It is expected that all provinces in Region 7 —Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor— will experience drought in May.

In June, all provinces will continue to experience drought save for Negros Oriental.

From July to September, all provinces will have a near normal outlook except for Siquijor, which will continue to experience drought. (PNA) LDV/EB/EDS