The state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said rainfall will start normalizing this month.
In its report to the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council during the 2nd Quarterly Meeting, provincial chief Sonny Pajarilla said their rainfall forecast shows that the province will already have 80 to 120 percent normal rain beginning this month.
“Drought is not necessarily zero rainfall, [but] 40 percent from normal lamang and then May is drought pa rin tayo. Itong May drought condition pa rin tayo, but not necessarily walang ulan. Pag-pasok natin ng May [ay] drought condition tayo dahil ang ating sinundan na apat na buwan ay sunud-sunod na 40 percent below normal rainfall. But ang ating forecast by the end of May ay hindi na po tayo sa drought condition,” Pajarilla said.
He said Puerto Princesa City had 24.88 mm total accumulated rainfall from the months of January to April.
This rainfall is 16 percent lower than the normal accumulated rainfall during the same regular period, Pajarilla said.
He added that from May to October this year, the Philippines will expect 10 to 14 typhoons to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
However, Pajarilla pointed out that the weak El Niño will still persist over the Pacific Ocean throughout June, July, and August.
“Wala pong dapat pangambahan ang Puerto Princesa niyan although kapag may bagyo ngayong May puwedeng tumama ‘yan. Ang coast guard siguro ang kailangan nilang ma-inform dito, kasi nga tatamaan pa rin ang northern [Palawan] diyan, kasi kapagka May, tumatama pa rin ‘yan dito sa may Calamianes but not Puerto Princesa,” he said.
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