Rainfall exceeds normal level
RAINFALL has surpassed the norms.
The office of the Civil Defense Cordillera (OCD) has warned on alarming rainfall accumulated since the onset of the monsoon.
Based on the Philippine Atmospheric Geographical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), rainfall monitoring since August 10 to 24 pegged 1,404.77mm of rain at the Baguio Synoptic station.
PAGASA said the average monthly rainfall for August is at 905mm which has already exceeded the norms pushing the OCD to caution continuous rain triggers landslides and flashfloods in the region.
“Local disaster risk reduction municipal councils are advised to heighten alert and take necessary actions as soon as possible and the public is alerted against hazards brought about by the aforementioned weather systems. Preemptive evacuation is strongly recommended. Be updated with the latest weather bulletins,” the OCD said in its bulletin.
The OCD noted one of the devastative cyclones in region was Typhoon Pepeng in 2009 which has recorded more than 900mm which badly hit the Benguet province.
PAGASA forecasts monsoon rains may still prevail until next week. Aside from Habagat, thunderstorms are also bringing rains over some parts of CAR.
According to the latest report from OCD, there are now 67 landslides reported in Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Baguio City with 11 roadslips due to erosion in Baguio, Apayao, Benguet and Mountain Province. There are also eight areas where rivers and creeks have been reported to have swelled and three incidents of flooding.
Affected families have reached 3,477 or 15,019 individuals with Abra having the highest at 3,233 families or 14,001 individuals followed by Benguet with 178 families or 718 individuals, and Mountain Province with 66 families or 300 individuals.
The OCD reports provinces of Ifugao, Apayao, Kalinga have yet to submit reports on damage.
Damages reported by the Department of Agriculture have also hiked to P106,767,059.05 with crop havoc at P92,277,346.05, livestock at P640,280, facilities at 1,917,000, fisheries at P1,247,433.
Lacub town in Abra has reported P10,685,000 worth of damages in agriculture and infrastructure.
As of Saturday, August 25, the Department of Public Works and Highways report the Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya Road to be closed to traffic due to roadslips at Barangy Beckel, La Trinidad.
The DPWH also reports an on-going clearing along Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya Road due to fallen trees at Sitio Guisset in Itogon and at Sitio Banao, Barangay Ambuklao, Bokod with one lane open.
The Baguio-BuaItogon Road is likewise closed to traffic due to Earth Slides at Sitio Kiangan Village, Barangay Ucab,Itogon.
Kennon Road is closed to traffic due to Bridge Construction at Camp 5 as well as the Gurel-BokodKabayan-BuguiasAbatan Road due to mudslide (close/open situation) at Sitio Bileng, Barangay Duacan,Kabayan.
One lane is open along AsinNangalisan-San Pascual Road at Brgy. Tadiangan, Tuba due to an on-going manual clearing.