Drought hits 15 Luzon provinces

MANILA, Philippines — Fifteen provinces in Luzon are experiencing drought as dry season persists, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said yesterday.

PAGASA said that Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Kalinga, La Union, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Quirino and Tarlac started experiencing the drought on Sunday.

Drought occurs when rainfall events within three consecutive months decreased by 60 percent.

PAGASA said 32 provinces are experiencing dry spell or a decrease of 21 to 60 percent in rainfall events within three months, while 23 others are experiencing dry condition or below normal rainfall within two months.

PAGASA earlier issued an El Niño alert, which may occur in the third quarter of this year, and is expected to continue until the early part of 2027.

Nathaniel Servando, PAGASA administrator, said the likelihood for the El Niño phenomenon to develop has increased to 79 percent.

Meanwhile, Cagayan province is experiencing dry spell, local officials said.

On April 20, the provincial government placed Cagayan under a state of calamity due to the combined effects of prolonged drought and rising fuel prices.

The United Nations has warned that the extreme heat is pushing global food and farming systems to the brink, threatening the livelihood of over a billion people.

Rising temperatures and more frequent heatwaves have redefined how food is produced worldwide, the UN said. — Pia Lee-Brago