NTC continues remote SIM card registration

PAGASA may issue El Niño alert by next month: official

State weather bureau PA-

GASA may issue an El Niño alert by next month, an official said on Saturday, as chances of the dry spell continue to increase.

Marcelino Villafuerte, head of PAGASA’s impact assessment in its climatology and agrometeorology division, said issuing the alert means there is a 70 percent that the phenomenon could happen in a few months.

At present, the Philippines is under “El Niño watch” status.

El Niño is a weather phenomenon characterized by below-normal rainfall that can lead to dry spells and drought.

“Possibly natin ito mataas to alert level by next month,” he said during a forum in Quezon City.

He added that by July, August, and September, the chances of developing El Niño may reach 80 percent. Citing historical data, the expert said rains could occur “above normal” during this period as this typ-

By MAYA M. PADILLO

ically happens before the phenomenon.

“[In] October, November, December, doon na nagsisimula yung effect nito na nagkakaroon na ng kakulangan. Then… January, February, March, April, doon na natin ie-expect ang impact nito,” he added.

The El Niño alert may be issued soon so the public could have a 2-month lead time to prepare. PAGASA expects the onset of El Niño in August.

“Two months ang lead time for alert, kapag ine-expect natin masyadong mataas ang chance, doon siya mag-start magalert. By May, pwede na siyang i-raise,” he said.

“Parang take action na… sa alert ang may action, kung maaari mag-take into action na (sic) given na mayroong ganon,” he added.

Climate projections by PAGASA show that El Niño will begin by the third quarter of 2023 or between July and September, and will last until early next year.

As the April 26 SIM card registration deadline draws near, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC 11) in the Davao Region continues its service caravans for the assisted subscriber identity module (SIM) card registration in various barangays in the Davao Region.

NTC 11 recently conducted simultaneously assisted SIM card registration in the municipalities of Boston and Cateel last Wednesday, Caraga and Baganga last Thursday, and Taragona and Manay, Davao Oriental on Friday.

Nelson Cañete, director of NTC

11, on Friday said among the factors why residents failed to register is complying the requirement of identification cards (IDs).

“Kung muadto ka sa tumoy nga mga lungsod daghan magparehistro ug mangutana mi ug valid ID wala man sila kay mga taga bukid wala man sila like SSS, driver’s license, GSIS and nagka-problema gyud. Ingon sila kanang voter’s certificate, ang problema sa voters certification mugasto pka ug P20 para mangayo ka ug voters certification sa local Comelec office. ang uban gusto magparehistro apan dili makarehistro kay dili nila ma-comply ang requirements sa mga IDs, pero naa mi gihimo nga pamaagi nga kung dili ma-rehistro sa asawa, irehistro na lang sa bana para dili maputol. Puwede man multiple registration,” he said.

Earlier this month, NTC-11 also conducted a simultaneous SIM card FNTC, A1