and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), El Niño increases the chances of below-normal rainfall conditions, which could bring negative impacts such as dry spells and droughts in some areas of the country that will likely be manifested during the last quarter up to the first quarter of the year.
Pagasa weather specialist Ferdinand Rubin said that dry spell continues to persist in Iloilo province and some parts of Western Visayas.
Dry spell is defined as three consecutive months of below normal rainfall condition, which is 21-60% reduction from the average rainfall.
Near normal rainfall conditions are forecasted in June and July except in the provinces of Antique, Guimaras, and Iloilo.
According to the Provincial Agriculture Office, dry spell and drought limit the rainfed areas to plant rice and could significantly affect major crops, livestock, poultry, and fisheries.
A rice blast disease can be active during droughts and may affect crop production. Affected areas likewise have difficulty to follow the fertilization and pest control measures that are dependent on water supply.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr earlier said that measures against El Niño are embedded in the programs of the provincial agriculture and fisheries extension system.
“It is composed of strategies and solutions. For the strategy, we focused on the rice hybrid rice program in the irrigated areas so that our high yield variety will be maximized,” Defensor said in a press conference. (AAL/LMLE/PIA Iloilo)
