As the once brutal El Nino continues to wane, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Administration (PAG-ASA) will officially signal the end of the phenomenon in the country in the last week of June while heavy rains are expected to take over.

According to PAG-ASA weather forecaster Hermie Hinlayagan, the entry of a cold front’s tail end which is bringing rains with it is causing the deterioration of the phenomenon’s effects to hasten, also signifying the start of the country’s wet season.

PAG-ASA has previously announced that the imminent La Nina will be more intense than the El Nino, and will bring heavy and persistent rains according to its forecast.

In the next few days, ten towns in the province will already start to experience rains, he added.

It is projected that excessive rains will cause floods in the forthcoming months.

Big landslides are also to be expected as the soil has already cracked and separated during the heat wave and will become very soft when it gets wet causing it to erode.

With its forecast, PAG-ASA advised the public to prepare for the incoming La Nina, especially those living near rivers and remote areas.

According to Hinlayagan, the intensity of the lingering El Nino started to deteriorate even in April.

The presence of the phenomenon was already detected in 2014 but its effects started to really be felt in the latter part of 2015, and its intensity was sustained until March this year.

During the period, the prolonged dry spell damaged properties and greatly affected the livelihood of Filipinos, particularly farmers. (with reports from Allen Doydora)