METRO Manila and other areas in Luzon will continue to experience rains until today due to the southwest monsoon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
In a weather advisory issued at 11 a.m. yesterday, PAGASA said the other areas due to experience rains are the Calabarzon and Bicol regions, and the provinces of Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and northern Palawan including Cuyo and Calamian islands.
“In the next 24 hours, the effect of southwest monsoon will bring light to moderate with at times heavy rains over (these areas),” PAGASA said.
It said these rains may lead to flooding and landslides, “especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps and in areas with significant antecedent rainfall.”
“The public and disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned are advised to take all necessary measures to protect life and property,” said PAGASA.
In a radio interview, PAGASA senior weather specialist Chris Perez said isolated rain showers, with cloudy skies, are expected to prevail in these areas until today.
“The southwest monsoon is so active,” said Perez.
Perez said there will be an improved weather condition on Thursday.
In a public weather forecast, PAGASA weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said these areas have been experiencing monsoon rains since Monday.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the cities of Valenzuela, Caloocan, Marikina, Malabon, Paranaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Taguig, Pasay, Mandaluyong, Navotas and the town of Pateros, all in Metro Manila; and the provinces of Rizal and Cavite in Calabarzon have suspended classes at all levels due to the rains.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority some said some areas in Quezon City and Mandaluyong City were under gutter-deep floodwater yesterday morning but the floods subsided when the rain stopped.
Edison “Bong” Nebrija, chief of the MMDA’s Special Operations Task Force, said the flood waters subsided shortly after the rains stopped.
He said this was also due to the fact that the agency, in coordination with local government units, have intensified their declogging operations on canals and drainage in anticipation of the rainy season.
Nebrija also said the MMDA’s 72 major and minor pumping stations in the metropolis have been upgraded allowing them to work nonstop during heavy rains and pump the flood waters towards Pasig River and Manila Bay.
Aurelio appealed to the residents in these areas to be extra vigilant with due to the anticipated monsoon rains until today, noting that this may lead to flooding and landslides.
During the Laging Handa public briefing, PAGASA weather specialist Dan Villamil said: “We’re expecting rains, brought by the southwest monsoon, until tomorrow (today) in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. We are going to experience this type of weather, cloudy skies with isolated rain showers.” — With Ashzel Hachero
