El Niño effects to persist this month — PAGASA
THE National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) yesterday said 206 cities and municipalities throughout the country are under a state of calamity due to the continuing effects of El Niño, a weather phenomenon that increases the likelihood of dry spells and droughts due to below-normal rainfall conditions.
There are 148 cities and 1,486 municipalities nationwide, according to data from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The NDRRMC said 119 of the local government units (LGUs) under state of calamity are in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), 30 in Western Visayas, 29 in Soccsksargen, 16 in Mimaropa; three each in Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula and Northern Mindanao; and one each in Ilocos region, Eastern Visayas and Cordillera Administrative Region.
It also said that the provinces of Antique, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, Basilan, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi and Sulu have declared province-wide state of calamity.
In the same report, the NDRRMC also said that as of May 4, some 2.46 million individuals have been affected by the phenomenon, including more than 29,000 farmers and fisherfolks.
However, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has a higher figure of more than 3.295 million individuals or 796,407 families affected by the El Niño in 13 regions in the country.
The NDRRMC said the El Niño has affected 577,775 families or 2,464,388 individuals in 3,109 barangays within 11 regions.
Western Visayas and BARRM are the two regions with the most number of affected population, with 231,724 families (900,013 individuals) and 126,368 families (623,231 individuals), respectively.
It also said the livelihood of 29,409 farmers and fisherfolks have been hit by the dry spell, with 26,731.4 hectares of crops, worth P1.23 billion, already damaged.
Affected families and individuals have been provided P908.7 million worth of assistance, including P808.41 million in financial aid.
On the other hand, data from the DSWD- Disaster Response Management said that as of 6 p.m. of May 4, 4, 366 barangays in regions I (Ilocos), II (Cagayan Valley), III (Central Luzon), IV-B (Mimaropa), V (Bicol), VI (Western Visayas), VII (Central Visayas), VIII (Eastern Visayas), IX (Zamboanga Peninsula), XI (Davao), XII (Soccsksargen), Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) are affected by the El Niño.
It said more than P106.64 million worth of food packs have been distributed by the DSWD to those affected by the phenomenon.
It said it still has P3.239 billion worth of cash (P794.92 million) and food packs (P2.44 billion) on standby and ready to be distributed.
The PAGASA has said in March that while El Niño is already weakening, its effect will persist until this month.
It said there is a 55 percent chance that La Niña, a climate pattern that characterizes above average rains, will onset during the June-July-August period.
The weather bureau said hot temperatures will continue to be felt throughout the country, with 26 areas forecast to have danger level heat index today.
Dagupan City in Pangasinan and Aparri town in Cagayan will be hottest with a projected 48 degree heat index.
Pasay City in Metro Manila will have a dangerous heat index of 42 degrees, while the forecast heat index in the following areas will range between 42 to 46 degrees: Sinait town in Ilocos Sur, Laoag City and Batac town in Ilocos Norte, Bacnotan town in La Union, Tuguegarao City in Cagayan, Echague town in Isabela, Iba town in Zambales, Baler and Casiguran towns in Aurora, Olongapo City in Zambales, Sangley Point in Cavite, Tanauan City in Batangas, Infanta and Alabat towns in Quezon, Puerto Princesa City and Cuyo town in Palawan, Daet town in Camarines Norte, Virac town in Catanduanes, Masbate City in Masbate, Pili town in Camarines Sur, Dumangas town in Iloilo, Catbalogan City in Samar, and Zamboanga City in Zamboanga del Sur. — With Jocelyn Montemayor
