THE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) yesterday predicted the rainy season may start between June 1 to 15 even though it said that the country is still under the warm and dry season months.
“As to the onset of the rainy season, based on the prediction or forecast of PAGASA, it will be between June 1 to 15,” Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section chief Ana Solis said during the “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon” public briefing.
But Solis also said: “There is a probability of more than 15 percent, there is (a) slim chance the onset of the rainy season will be delayed. It’s possible the rainy season will come June 16 and beyond.”
She said the recent thunderstorms in some areas, including in Metro Manila, are a sign that the start of the rainy season is already nearing.
Solis said PAGASA is predicting 13 to 16 tropical cyclones this year.
“It’s possible we will have below normal (number of) tropical cyclones, (but) there is also (a) possibility of destructive typhoons,” she said.
The weather bureau announced the onset of the rainy season last year on June 2, 2023.
Solis said that even if the rainy season starts, some areas will still experience high heat index but temperatures will be lower compared to the recent months.
“For now, we are still under the warm and dry season months,” she said.
PAGASA has said the El Niño weather phenomenon is weakening but its effect will persist until this month. El Niño is a weather phenomenon that increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall conditions that may lead to dry spells and droughts.
On the other hand, it said La Niña, a climate pattern that characterizes above average rains, may start may start during the June-July-August season.
Meanwhile, President Marcos Jr. yesterday led the distribution of cash aid and other forms of assistance to farmers, fisher folks and local government units (LGUs) in the Northern Mindanao region who were heavily affected by the El Niño.
The President first visited Iligan City where he distributed over P50 million in financial assistance to Iligan City, Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental.
Marcos handed over a check for P10.54 million to Iligan City Mayor Frederick Siao, P13.92 million to Lanao del Norte Vice Gov. Allan Lim, and P24.36 million to Misamis Occidental Gov. Henry Oaminal.
He said he could have easily assigned an agency to hand over the assistance but he wants to personally see the conditions of the affected communities, especially the fisher folks and farmers.
The President said aside from the financial assistance from his office, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) – through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations Program – also distributed P10,000 each in cash aid to 9,588 beneficiaries in Iligan City, which he hopes would help improve the families’ current conditions.
He said the regional offices of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Health (DOH) likewise distributed assistance to the residents during the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair, while the office of Speaker Martin Romualdez distributed rice bags to each affected resident of Iligan City and Cagayan de Oro City.
“Kaya nga po ang ginagawa natin ngayon ay sinusuyod natin ang buong kapuluan upang maghatid ng tulong sa mga napinsala ng matinding tag-init at tagtuyot na nangyayari sa El Niño (We are now combing through the whole country to bring help to those affected by the extreme heat and drought due to El Niño),” the President said in his speech at the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology.
He said he intends to visit more areas, assuring the public that no regions or sector would be neglected.
The President last week visited Zamboanga City, General Santos City, and Sultan Kudarat and distributed P10,000 cash assistance to those affected by the dry spell.
In the afternoon, the President also distributed P100 million worth of financial aid to the city government of Cagayan de Oro and the provincial governments of Camiguin, Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon during ceremonies held at the Pimentel Convention Center in Barangay Taguanao, Cagayan de Oro City.
Marcos handed over the checks for P10 million each to Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Rolando Uy and Camiguin Gov, Xavier Jesus Romualdo; and P50 million each to Misamis Oriental Gov. Peter M. Unabia and Bukidnon Gov. Rogelio Neil Roque.
He also handed P10,000 in cash assistance each to select farmers and fisher folks, while Romualdez distributed five kilos of rice to each of the attendees.
The President reiterated his commitment to exhaust all available means to deliver government assistance needed by El Nino-affected communities especially the farmers and fishermen in Mindanao. – With Jocelyn Montemayor
