A rice field dries up due to heat and lack of water in Batangay Casalat, San Ildefonso, Bulacan on January 15, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File
MANILA — All 82 provinces in the country will experience drought by the end of March next year with the anticipated ‘very strong’ El Niño, Department of Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum said Monday.
This means three consecutive months of way below normal (60% reduction from average) or five consecutive months of below normal (21%-60% reduction from average) rainfall condition.
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“The effects are being felt but it can get worst next year based on the amount of rain that will happen,” Solidum said in a Palace press briefing Monday, October 5.
“And I'd like to reiterate again, how we will be affected by it is dependent on how much preparation we have and the conservation of water that we will do,” he added.
The Office of the Civil Defense reported 106 cities and municipalities and five provinces have declared state of calamity due to the effects of the phenomenon.
Damage to agriculture is now pegged at P6.8 billion, affecting 249,000 hectares of agricultural lands.
The Department of Agriculture assured that there will be sufficient supply of rice and other agricultural commodities despite expected losses in harvests.
The agency confirmed requesting Congress for a supplemental budget of P45 billion to augment its efforts in mitigating the effects of El Niño to farmers and fisherfolk.
“Out of the 45 billion, nareleasan na kami ng 6.2 billion we’re implementing now. I would believe there would be another P10 billion coming for solar irrigation, solar pumps, and solar erators and additional biofertilizers,”Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said in the same briefing.
“For 2027, meron nang nailagay kami with the help of Congress na 10 billion of the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk,” he added.
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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. presided over a meeting with his Cabinet on Monday to discuss the government’s response to the impact of El Niño to various sectors.
Handout/PCO
Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna allayed fears of a potential water crisis as he appealed to the public to conserve and recycle water.
“Historically, ang all-time low natin in 2019 was 157 meters. I’m talking about Angat Dam which provides 90% ng water supply dito sa NCR po. Pero this year, noong July, nag-150 po, pero kung napapansin po ninyo, hindi po tayo nagkaroon ng water interruption,” he said in the same briefing.
The agency may issue a directive to local government units to implement "strict" water conservation measures, according to Cuna.
“Rainwater harvesting, ito po ay matagal na pong pinag-uusapan. In fact, nagtataka ang marami, sa dalas po ng ating mga bagyo that were not able to save water. Sayang po ang natatapon na tubig,” he added.
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The Local Water Utilities Administration, for its part, vowed to continue looking for new water sources within local water districts.
The Health department meanwhile said it will tap barangay health workers to help in monitoring vulnerable sectors such as pregnant women and senior citizens.
“Tayo nga po ay inatasan ng ating Pangulo na gumawa po ng information campaign hindi lamang po ng mga posters kung hindi po talaga to reach out even magbahay-bahay po iyong ating mga barangay health workers para ipaliwanag po iyong mga kailangang gawin para nga po maiwasan itong kumplikasyon ng ating El Niño,” Health Secretary Edwin Mercado said in the same briefing.
The OCD added that they will monitor possible increase in forest fires with the threat of ‘Super’ El Niño.