The Philippines is getting ready for the impending La Niña, as a government task team assigned to deal with the El Niño phenomena is currently getting ready for the transition.
Task Force El Niño spokesperson Joey Villarama, Assistant Secretary of the Presidential Communications Office, stated that Task Force El Niño will become Task Force La Niña by the start of the phenomena, which PAGASA anticipates will happen by August.
“Obviously, we want less people -- farmers, fisherfolks -- to be affected. But again, as I said, because of mitigation efforts and the interventions have eased the impact of El Niño,” said Villarama.
Preparing for the heavy rains
As the La Niña phenomenon approaches which usually brings torrential rains, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has instructed its field offices nationwide to get ready for unfavorable impacts of intense rainfall, that could result in more agricultural damage than El Niño.
“We're still doing El Niño reporting, but we're already on La Niña watch," DA Assistant Secretary for Operations U-Nichols Manalo said.
According to Manalo, farmer groups and the agricultural department have been working together to control farm drainage water.
Additionally, the DA is also investigating locations that have been impacted by La Niña during its previous 16 episodes.
Current trajectory
By August, September, or October, PAGASA anticipates La Niña to become the dominating phenomenon.
“Meaning, base sa forecast ng PAGASA, inaasahan natin na mas mataas 'yung probability na mas marami tayong ulan by October-November-December kung saan ito 'yung kasagsagan ng Amihan season,” PAGASA Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section chief Ana Solis said.
The La Niña phenomena is linked to rainfall levels that are higher than usual.
