The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Thursday, March 7, said 25 provinces in Luzon and five provinces in Visayas are subject to meteorological drought in March.
PAGASA said the drought is the condition when there are three consecutive months of “way-below normal” rainfall conditions (more than 60 percent reduction from average rainfall).
In its latest advisory, PAGASA said areas in Luzon to be affected by drought are Abra, Apayao, Aurora, Bataan, Benguet, Cagayan, Cavite, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Kalinga, La Union, Laguna, Metro Manila, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Pangasinan, Quirino, Rizal, and Zambales.
In Visayas, areas affected by drought include Antique, Guimaras, Iloilo, Leyte, and Negros Oriental, said PAGASA.
Meanwhile, PAGASA said 22 areas may expect dry spells or conditions when three consecutive months of below-normal rainfall conditions (21 percent to 60 percent reduction from average rainfall) will be felt.
Areas to be affected by dry spell include Batangas, Bulacan, Masbate, Pampanga, Tarlac, Biliran, Bohol, Capiz, Cebu, Eastern Samar, Negros Oriental, Samar, Siquijor, Southern Leyte, Camuguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay.
In addition, 15 provinces will face dry conditions or when two consecutive months of below-normal rainfall conditions are experienced.