Monsoon rains expected in Luzon today
Moderate to heavy rainfall is expected today, especially in the regions of Ilocos, Cordillera and Central Luzon, due to the effects of the southwest monsoon, the state weather bureau said yesterday.
In its 11 a. m. advisory yesterday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned residents in the said areas to brace for possible flashfloods and landslides.
“Occasional with light to moderate rains are expected over Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon and the province of Mindoro,” PAGASA said.
“Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of the country,” it added.
Meanwhile, a low-pressure area was spotted 870 kilometers east northeast of Basco, Batanes yesterday morning.
“Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over Luzon and the Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough,” said PAGASA.
“Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the southwest with slight to moderate seas,” it added.
Thousands affected by monsoon rains
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) spokesperson Mina Marasigan said thousands of residents from the Ilocos, Cordillera and Central Luzon regions were most affected by the continuous rains caused by the southwest monsoon.
There were no consolidated figures as of press time but separate regional reports show that the number of those affected has exceeded 3,000.
There were two verified fatalities so far who died in a landslide in Kennon Road, Benguet last Monday.
Marasigan said they were still verifying reports that four persons have died and nine others were injured in another landslide, also in Benguet.
In Santo Tomas, La Union, a total of 722 families or 3,267 individuals have felt the effects of the heavy rains and floods.
A total of 24 families, or 84 persons, in Bauang and 54 families, or 185 individuals, in San Fernando – both in La Union – were also affected.
The southwest monsoon also displaced five families, or 20 persons, in Pangasinan and six families, or 30 individuals, in Santa, Ilocos Sur.
In Central Luzon, the rains affected 245 families, or 524 people, in Bataan and Zambales. Marasigan said some families in Tarlac were also affected but the provincial authorities are still consolidating their report.
In Cordillera, 77 families were affected in Kalinga while two others felt the effects of the heavy rains in Benguet.
A total of six minor landslides have been monitored in the region.
Officials are still assessing the amount of infrastructure damage caused by the bad weather. Marasigan, however, noted that there was gradual dike eroding in Sinocalan River in Pangasinan.
Power outages have been reported in Barangay Santa Rita in Bacnotan, La Union; in Santa, Ilocos Sur; and in parts of San Fernando, Pampanga. Water interruptions were also experienced in parts of Bacnotan.
Marasigan said the bad weather also partially damaged the Tubo-Tubo dam in Dinalupihan, Bataan but repair works are ongoing.
Red alert, state of calamity
The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) yesterday placed the Cordillera region under red alert for possible flash floods and landslides, as two dams in Benguet, both nearing critical spilling level, continue to release water.
The OCD said they have initiated preemptive evacuation in Topdac, Atok, Benguet and in Samok, Bontoc, Mountain Province.
OCD Cordillera regional director Andrew Alex Uy told
The STAR they are monitoring Binga Dam, which has already released water on six of its gates.
Uy said Binga’s water level – 749.9 meters as of yesterday morning – is nearing the spilling point of 752 m.
He added that Ambuklao Dam likewise released water in eight of its gates as its 572.43-m water level nears the critical 575-m level.
The OCD in the Ilocos region is also now on red alert as it continues to monitor the situation in affected areas.
Ilocos Sur provincial disaster risk reduction and management council (PDRRMC) declared the municipality of Santa under state of calamity after 60 percent of its total land area was submerged in floodwaters.
Some 75 families from Barangays Bucalag, Tabucolan, Pasungol and Quirino were evacuated since Friday, according to Florencio Formoso, municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer.
The town of Bani in Pangasinan was also placed under state of calamity after its barangays were flooded due to intermittent monsoon rains.