(UPDATE) METRO Manila and 26 other provinces will likely experience a drought by the end of February as the El Niño sets in, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Aside from Metro Manila, the other drought-threatened provinces in Luzon are Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao, Mountain Province, Ilocos, Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Aurora, Cavite, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro and Palawan.