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.