PAGASA: Rainy season expected in June

The smoldering heat Filipinos have experienced in recent months is about to end as the rainy season begins in June, the state weather bureau said on Monday. In an interview on GMA’s Unang Hirit, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said effects of the El Niño dry spell would no longer be felt next month. "Ang epekto [ng El Niño] magtatapos sa June. Hindi natin malaman kung ano’ng araw sa June (The effects of El Niño will end in June, although we can’t say the exact date)," said Aurelio. The hottest day of the year in Metro Manila was recorded last May 19, when the temperature rose a sizzling 37.3 degrees Celsius.

During the first quarter of 2010, farm output plunged by 2.84 percent because the searing heat caused by the El Niño phenomenon affected crops and fisheries production. Last Saturday, PAGASA chief Prisco Nilo said the state weather bureau and the National Disaster Coordinating Council are already preparing for La Niña in July, which is expected to bring heavy rains that could trigger disasters. In September last year, hundreds were killed while thousands of families lost their homes and livelihood when tropical storm Ondoy dumped a month’s worth of rains in merely six hours. — Sophia Dedace/RSJ, GMANews.TV