El Nino brings drought to RP

El Nino brings drought to RP

MANILA (AFP): The climactic phenomenon El Nino has brought
drought to nearly half the Philippines, with 36 provinces
suffering a severe rain shortage, the government weather bureau
said yesterday.

Rainfall was less than 40 percent of the normal rate over the
past three months in large swathes of the main island of Luzon,
the central islands of Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Panay,
Negros, Samar, and parts of the southern island of Mindanao, the
bureau said.

Nine other provinces experienced "critical rainfall
deficiency," which the bureau described as less than 40 percent
below normal for one to two months.

Manila and 10 provinces saw moderate rainfall deficiency while
only four provinces experienced "near normal" precipitation.