An El Niño episode characterized by below-normal rainfall may persist until 2024.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said El Niño can lead to dry spells and even drought.
El Niño will begin by the third quarter of 2023 or between July and September, and will last until next year but its effects will not be felt immediately.
Ana Liza Solis, PAGASA’s climate monitoring and prediction section head, said the El Niño Watch is meant to lead early preparations.
Meanwhile, a Social Weather Survey (SWS) revealed that 93 percent of adult Filipinos have personally experienced the impacts of climate change in the past three years.
The survey showed that 17 percent have experienced severe impact of climate change in the past three years, 52 percent felt moderate impact, and 24 percent felt little impact. Six percent did not experience any impact.
The SWS survey results also showed that most Filipinos maintained an optimistic attitude toward combating climate change.
“The survey also found 88% agreeing (51% strongly agree, 37% somewhat agree) with the statement ‘People like me can do something to reduce climate risk or risks resulting from climate change,’ 10% undecided, and 3% disagreeing (2% somewhat disagree, 1% strongly disagree, correctly rounded),” the SWS added.
The SWS also said 76 percent or three out of four think that humanity could do something to stop or slow down climate change if they really tried.
The Fourth Quarter 2022 Social Weather Survey was conducted from December 10-14, 2022, using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults (18 years old and above) nationwide: 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. Face-to-face is the standard interviewing method for Social Weather Stations.