The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) on Monday said that they are now preparing for the possible effects of the El Niño phenomenon during the second half of the year.

NWRB Executive Director Dr. Sevillano David Jr., said that they are aware on the declaration made by state weather forecasters.

“Sa ngayon may sapat na supply ng tubig pero sabi ng PAGASA nagbabadya ang El Niño, sabi magkakaroonng kabawasan sa pag-ulan sa ilang parte ng bansa. So kailangan paghandaan na ito para hindi makaapekto sa water supply,” Sevillano said at the Laging Handa Public Briefing.

(For now, we have an amply supply of water, but PASA predicted the El Niño phenomenon, which will result in fewer rains. So, we need to prepare for this so that it will not affect our water supply)

Earlier,the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration predicted that El Niño, the warming of the Pacific Ocean, will most likely prevail in July.

When it sets in, the number of tropical cyclones that will hit the country may decrease, Pagasa said.

The weather bureau earlier announced the end of La Niña, which led to a number of tropical cyclones in the past year.

“Most of the climate models predict that ENSO-neutral is favored from March through June this year with an increased likelihood of a transition to El Niño thereafter,” Pagasa Administrator Vicente Malano said, referring to El Niño-Southern Oscillation-neutral.

Even if El Niño takes effect, Malano said the lingering effect of La Niña will likely persist which may result in above-normal rainfall conditions during the third and last quarter of 2023.

Based on historical records, El Niño starts during the April-May-June period.

El Niño is the warm phase in the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which increases the likelihood of below-normal conditions that can cause dry spells and droughts in some areas in the country.

The weather agency said it expects a gradual shift of the wind system as the northeast monsoon weakens and the easterlies becomes predominant this month.

High- and low-pressure areas, localized thunderstorms and intertropical convergence zones can still occur as well as one tropical cyclone that will affect the country this month, PAGASA said.

Catherine R. Cueto