Amihan may end sooner than expected — PAGASA

The Amihan or Northeast Monsoon season may stop bringing its cool winds earlier than expected this year, while the El Niño phenomenon may cast its warm spell over the next three months, state weather bureau PAGASA said Friday.

In a public briefing, PAGASA climate monitoring and prediction chief Ana Liza Solis said the end of the Amihan season could be sooner compared to last year.

"Nakikita natin ngayon na baka earlier than March 21 or earlier ng nakaraang taon nu'ng tayo nagdeklara ng termination ng Amihan. So, anytime pagdating ng Marso," she said.

(We are seeing now that the termination of Amihan could be earlier than March 21, or earlier than last year's declaration that the season was over. So, Amihan is projected to end anytime in March.)

The state weather bureau also announced that the El Niño phenomenon would reach the end of its "mature stage" within February, and begin its decay around the March-April-May period.

"Kaya nga lang po, kahit pahina na ang El Niño, 'yung impact naman na mararanasan natin dito sa ating bansa in terms of sectoral impact, so 'yun naman ang medyo mararanasan natin, 'yung tindi nito dahil mayroon po siyang tinatawag na extension or land effect ng El Niño," Solis said.

(However, even though the El Niño itself will be weakening, the intensity of its impact will still be experienced here in the country, in terms of sectoral impact, because of what we call its extension or land effect.)

PAGASA also announced that no tropical cyclones are expected in the Philippines over the next two months.

In a separate interview on Super Radyo dzBB on Thursday, Solis said the Amihan or Northeast Monsoon would still be felt occasionally.

"We need to keep on monitoring. Sa ngayon, wala talaga tayong nakikita [na expected rains]. May areas pa ring inuulan. Mayroon tayong easterlies," she said.

(We need to keep on monitoring. As of now, we really have no [expected rains]. There are still areas that have rainfall. The easterlies are continuing to affect parts of the country.)

Health and El Niño

Meanwhile, infectious diseases expert Dr. Rontgene Solante, president of the Philippine College of Physicians, warned the public about the possible emergence of some diseases as a result of the changing climate.

"'Yung health natin ay nakabatay doon sa the way we cook, our attitude towards health. Importante pa rin, even with or without El Niño, panatilihin natin ang kapaligaran natin malinis because of dengue," Solante said in a public briefing on Friday.

(Our health depends on the way we cook and on our attitude. It is important that with or without El Niño, let's keep our environment clean because of the risk of dengue.)

"Sa mga pagkain naman, kailangan maghugas ng kamay bago kakain at siguraduhin 'yung source ng mga pagkain natin at tubig comes from highly hygienic preparation," he added.

(For food, we need to wash our hands before eating and ensure the source of our food and water comes from highly hygienic preparation.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News