MANILA, Philippines - The country may experience record-breaking heat in coming months, state weather bureau PAGASA said.
"Hindi natin aalisin yung possibility na ma-reach pa rin 'yung ating record. It could be ma-break natin in the next coming months," PAGASA Weather Services chief Esperanza Cayanan said at a press conference on Wednesday.
The highest temperature recorded in the country was 1969, when the heat in Tuguegarao City reached 42.2 degrees Celsius. The highest temperature recorded in Metro Manila was 38.6 degrees Celsius in 1915.
The weather bureau noted that the highest temperature in the country this year -- 38.6 degrees Celsius -- was recorded in General Santos City on March 1.
Landrico Dalida Jr., PAGASA deputy administrator for operations and services, said that a gradual increase in the daily temperature has been recorded in most parts of the country.
According to PAGASA, 18 provinces across the country have experienced drought this year. About 30 provinces, or 38 percent of the provinces in the country, are expected to experience drought from April to May.
The government has already conducted cloud-seeding operations in Palawan, Panay, Negros and in some parts of Mindanao.
The state weather bureau has yet to announce the start of the dry season.
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