ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 6 (PIA) – Residents of Zamboanga Peninsula are experiencing scattered rainfall due to Habagat over the past few days but expect to have lesser rainfall in the coming months according to weather forecasts.

The Department of Science and Technology Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA) reported a transition from El Niño-Southern Oscillation Neutral or neither El Niño or La Niña to El Niño is favored in the next couple of months, with a higher chance of El Niño persisting up to the first quarter of 2024.

El Niño increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall conditions, which could bring negative impacts such as dry spells and droughts in some areas of the country and health concerns to the people.

Inclan advises the public to save and gather water during the rainy season in preparation of the El Niño alert. “The changes in weather indicates the effects of climate change, that is why we need to work together in fighting these effects,” Inclan added.

The PAGASA Zamboanga City Radar Facebook Account regularly posts weather updates for Zamboanga Peninsula which is one of their ways to inform people and prepare them ahead of time if ever there is a change in weather.

Further, PAGASA will continue to monitor the weather and climate situation of the country. The public and all concerned agencies are advised to take precautionary measures against the impacts of the rainy season. (NBE/EDT/MLE/PIA9-Zamboanga City)