Luzon gets break from monsoon

Filipinos can expect fair weather until Saturday apart from isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

PAGASA’s weather division chief Esperanza Cayanan said no weather disturbance

was spotted within the Philippine area of responsibility as of yesterday that could enhance the moisture-laden southwest monsoon.

PAGASA administrator Vicente Malano urged the public, especially those in Metro Manila, to take advantage of the “monsoon break” to clean clogged waterways which cause flooding.

He said personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority have already cleaned waterways in the metropolis prior to the monsoon rains. However, some areas in the capital still experienced flooding due to clogged waterways.

“If the people, especially in Metro Manila, will not stop throwing their garbage in water canals, we can still experience severe flooding,” he said.

Malano pointed out that everyone, not just the local government, can contribute to the country’s disaster risk reduction program.

At least 11 tropical cyclones are forecast to enter the country until Novem- ber that could bring heavy rains and destructive winds, PAGASA warned.

According to Ana Liza Solis, officer-in-charge of PAGASA’s climate monitoring and prediction section, around 10 to 13 cyclones are predicted to enter the country from June to November.

Two tropical cyclones, Domeng and Ester, entered the country this month. Both cyclones boosted the southwest monsoon, which triggered rains in many parts of Luzon over the past several days.