People walk under the scorching heat of the sun in Quezon City, the Philippines, on April 30, 2024.(Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)
In the Philippines 131 cities and municipalities have declared a state of calamity over the devastating effects of El Nino.
MANILA, May 1 (Xinhua) -- A government official said Tuesday that the Philippines is mulling cloud seeding to quench the country's thirst amid the drought caused by the El Nino phenomenon, which has affected 2.9 million people.
Task Force El Nino spokesperson Joey Villarama told reporters that 131 cities and municipalities across the country have declared a state of calamity in response to the devastating effects of El Nino.
Villarama said most of the areas under the state of calamity are experiencing drought. The affected areas include the seven provinces across the archipelago, particularly in the central and southern Philippines. Under a state of calamity, the local government can access the calamity fund, which can be used for mitigation and rehabilitation.
People avoid the scorching heat of the sun by using umbrellas in Quezon City, the Philippines, on April 30, 2024.(Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)
The state weather bureau, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, warned that the worst of the El Nino will last until May before the climate pattern transitions to neutral conditions.
But Villarama said there is no room for complacency even if it is the tail-end of El Nino, stressing the need to conserve water. He also cautioned that while vital water and food sources remain stable, the prevailing dry conditions pose a significant threat.
The Philippines' Department of Agriculture reported that loss and damages to agriculture had already reached 4.39 billion pesos (roughly 76 million U.S. dollars).
According to Villarama, some areas, such as the Cagayan Valley region in the northern Philippines, have already requested cloud seeding to increase the water supply near the dam in the region. The government is considering implementing cloud seeding in mountainous areas to increase surface water supply. ■