The country has yet to recover from the ill-effects of the El Niño phenomenon and here comes the threat of La Niña.

On Saturday, officials of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said they are jointly initiating early preparations for rains and landslides as the La Niña phenomenon or rainy season is expected to hit the country as early as July when the El Niño phenomenon (long dry spell) ends next month.

PAGASA Chief Prisco Nilo said his agency is coordinating with the NDCC on the La Niña weather phenomenon that may arise after the El Niño.

“Kapag La Niña, ang dulot malakas na pagbuhos na ulan. Dulot nito landslide at pagbaha lalo sa areas na nagkaroon ng ganitong sitwasyon. Kailangan umpisa na tayo maghanda," Nilo said. (“La Niña will bring heavy rains that could trigger landslides and floods, especially in areas prone to these calamities. We have to start preparing early.”)

He said PAGASA data indicate a 35-percent probability of La Niña occurring in the third quarter of 2010, although the likelihood might be known in the coming weeks.

Nilo said PAGASA feeds the NDCC with updated data that it can relay to the local government units concerned.

The local government units, in turn, are expected to make the needed preparations, he said.

It was learned that the NDCC regional office in Metro Manila has already invited newly- elected mayors to a meeting to prepare for the rainy season.

Officials said early preparations are needed, recalling that last year, some regions in Luzon, particularly in Metro Manila, were unprepared when tropical storm “Ondoy” dumped heavy rains that caused widespread flooding.