Scientists have warned that the Philippines will be experiencing its worst El Nino long, dry spell in 18 years even as governments take steps to cushion the effects of this particular weather phenomenon.
“The El Nino phenomenon will this year be the worst since 1997,” Secretary Mario Montejo of the Philippines Department of Science and Technology said recently in Ozamiz City in Northern Mindanao during a speech.
According to Montejo, starting this September, they expect 12 of the total 81 provinces of the country to experience El Nino.
Some parts of the country are already experiencing below normal rainfall, which holds particular significance for a predominantly agricultural country like the Philippines. That is causing a slowdown in the production of certain agricultural products.
Yvette Assunto, a researcher for the Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA), tells Gulf News that they are experiencing some disruptions in the supply of their product.
“We are experiencing some problems with the supply [of bananas] as production volume is [already] affected by the El Nino,” she said.
PBGEA members export to countries in the Middle East, Japan and China among others.
Montejo has assured that the government is preparing for any eventualities. Food security and health are priority in the government’s preparation for the 2015 El Nino, he said.
