El Niño 2010 ‘not the worst’

Source: inquirer.net
By Jeannette Andrade
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 20:12:00 02/21/2010

MANILA, Philippines – The current El Nino phenomenon in the country is not the worst.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) dispelled on Sunday the public’s apprehension over the destructive effect of the El Niño phenomenon now felt in the country.

At the “Balitaan sa Tinapayan” forum in Manila, Pagasa weather bureau director Frisco Nilo assured that the phenomenon, which the country is now experiencing is not as worse as what we suffered from 1997 to 1998, which he described as the “strongest” in recent history because it affected the whole country.

He pointed out that what we are experiencing is categorized as “moderate to strong” El Niño, which will last until the middle of the year.

He identified the provinces of Cagayan Valley and Isabela as some of the areas hardest hit by the phenomenon. Other provinces include Benguet, Batanes, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Pampanga, Batangas, Iloilo, Guimaras, Antique, Negros Occidental and Capiz.

Nilo stressed that there would be a 40 percent to 60 percent reduction in rainfall as an effect of the phenomenon.