The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has identified 47 provinces in the country that will experience dry-spell and dry weather, including the Cordillera Administrative Region this November.
In its November 9, 2023 advisory, Pagasa Officer-In-Charge Nathaniel Servando included Kalinga and Apayao as the areas in the Cordillera to experience a dry spell, while dry conditions will be felt in the provinces of Abra, Benguet including Baguio City, Ifugao, and Mountain Province.
Pagasa said a dry spell refers to three consecutive months of below-normal rainfall conditions or a 21 to 60 percent reduction from average rainfall. A dry condition is defined as two consecutive months of below-normal rainfall conditions or a 21 to 60 percent reduction from average rainfall.
Except for Benguet Province, near-average to warmer-than-average air temperatures are likely in the country. Cold temperature surges may also be expected to occur during the month.
The Cordillera Regional Inter-Agency Task Group (RIATG) on El Niño chaired by the Department of Agriculture Cordillera (DA-CAR) continues to consolidate efforts among the different agency task groups and task unit members as a measure in addressing the possible effects of El Niño in the region.
The RIATG on El Nino is a whole of government and science-based approach to cushion the impact of the dry spell and dry condition, and its possible effect on food security in the region. DA-CAR is the lead agency on the food security group under the national El Niño team composed of different agencies of government, and is part of the water and health security groups, through its attached agencies and bureaus like the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).
DA-CAR Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) officer Lito Mocati explained that among the intervention measures considered by the department are the Information Education Campaign (IEC) on climate change and El Niño, the adoption of climate-resilient agriculture practices such as the adjustment of the planting schedules, use of drought-tolerant seed varieties suitable in the vulnerable production areas, planting consideration for other crops which have minimal use of water, use of mulching, desilting, and repair and restoration of irrigation systems particularly those in the tail end of the system that might not be reached by the supply of water, and cloud seeding when necessary.
Provisions of water pump engines, the search for other alternative sources of water like aquifers and deep wells, continuous advocacy on proper water management for irrigation purposes, and the procurement of water HDPE Plastic sheets used as temporary storage of rainwater brought about by previous typhoons in the region have been used for non-irrigated areas. **JTLlanes
