El Niño has started to weaken and slight rains are expected by mid-May in Negros Occidental, Irene Bel Ploteña, Provincial Disaster Management Program Division head, said on Tuesday, May 7.
An advisory from state weather bureau PAGASA states that the slight rains in mid-May will be the start of the transition to La Niña and the habagat (south west monsoon) season, she said.
Negros Occidental Gov. Lacson said with La Niña “yes there will be rain, but I hope it will not be typhoons”.
More people will affected by La Niña typhoons than El Niño because it will cause the evacuation of families, he said.
We are just hoping it will not be as bad as PAGASA says, he said.
What is very important is all Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices in the province should always be alert and the public should follow pre-evacuation advice when given to save lives, he said.*