The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration in Oriental Negros warned the public to prepare for the rainy season La Niña starting July, after the drought-causing El Nino weather pattern has receded.

Chief meteorological Edsin Culi of PAGASA said the El Niño is over as shown by the return to neutral conditions in the Pacific Ocean up to the end of May. Culi, however, said his office is monitoring the possible development of the rain-laden weather pattern in the next two to three months as suggested by other international meteorological centers.

With that, he said PAGASA is expecting the potential development of another tropical cyclone before the end of May based on historical records.

Culi said about 13 disturbances or typhoons will hit the Philippine archipelago each year, mostly during the rainy season that usually starts in late May and normally lasts until December. La Niña, which is associated with increased rainfall, causes storms and flooding in many parts of Asia. It was felt in the Philippines from December 2005 until March 2006.

During that time, most parts of the country experienced above average rainfall, local meteorologists have said.

Mudslides triggered by heavy rains entombed a community of 1,800 in Guinsaugon on Southern Leyte province, about 675 km (420 miles) southeast of Manila, in February 2006. Culi warned Negrenses especially those living in the low-lying areas and river banks to seek higher grounds for possible flash floods and for the mountainous areas to vacate when excessive rain falls occur for the land slides.

Nathaniel Cruz, head of the weather branch of national PAGASA, said Mindanao island in southern Philippines experienced below-normal rain in November and December due to what meteorologists described as a mild El Niño.

On the other hand, wide areas in Luzon and Visayas islands in the northern and central part of the Philippine archipelago were battered by a series of strong typhoons since September.

Cruz said the El Niño weather pattern that affected the Philippines late last year followed the La Niña anomaly that started in November 2005 and lasted until early 2006.*RG

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