By: Emme Rose Santiagudo
AMID the scattered rains felt in parts of the province and city of Iloilo, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) said the rainy season has yet officially started.
According to, PAG-ASA weather observer Charlie Depra, the heavy rains on Wednesday was only in Guimaras, Central Iloilo and parts of Antique.
May generally fair weather kita with the possibility of heavy rains especially during night time due to localized thunderstorm, he said.
PAG-ASA-Iloilo head Ronaldo Naragdao said it could also mean that the rainy season is already approaching.
We have no onset of the rainy season because we have not met the criteria, Naragdao said.
He said a set of criteria should first be satisfied before they declare the start of the rainy season.
Two of the criteria are continuous rains for five days and 25 millimeters volume of water.
Meanwhile, Naragdao said the amount of water in the farmlands is not yet enough for palay farming.
Wala ko sa position to tell the farmers when to start growing their palay but kulang pa gihapon ang tubig naton subong, indi pa na siya kapabuhi sang palay, he said
Usually, farmers start the first cropping at the onset of the rainy season in June.
But Naragdao said that the El Niño phenomenon will continue until August.
The province of Iloilo has been affected by the dry spell caused by the El Niño phenomenon.
The towns of Bingawan, Lambunao, Maasin, Janiuay, and Santa Barbara have been placed under a state of calamity because of the drought.
On April 26, 2019, Iloilo City was also placed under a state of calamity due to water crisis.
