DOWNPOUR. Only large vehicles pass through the flooded Taft Avenue in Manila on Friday night (July 23, 2021). Heavy rains caused by the enhanced southwest monsoon drenched Metro Manila and many parts of Luzon for the past week. (PNA photo by Jess Escaros Jr.)
MANILA – Malacañang on Saturday said it is closely monitoring the situation in the country as heavy monsoon rains continue to drench parts of Luzon.
“We are closely monitoring the weather situation, especially flood-prone and landslide-prone areas, where heavy rainfall warning brought by the southwest monsoon has been raised,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press statement.
This, after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), in its 5 a.m. weather bulletin, said Typhoon Fabian has left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) but continues to enhance the southwest monsoon, triggering scattered to widespread monsoon rains over several parts of Luzon.
Roque said the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s central office and field offices have standby funds and prepositioned goods amounting to PHP849.5 million and PHP169.18 million, respectively.
He added that there are also food and non-food items worth PHP676.5 million.
“These are readily available to augment the resources of the local government units (LGUs). As to assistance provided, the LGUs have initially extended assistance to affected families in Orion and Samal, Bataan, San Antonio, Zambales, and in Balbalan, Kalinga,” Roque said.
Citing the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s report, Roque said the preemptive evacuation of 3,316 families or 14,023 persons, including the 3,077 families or 13, 225 persons in Marikina, have been conducted, as of 10 a.m.
Alert Level 2 remains hoisted over the Marikina River even as its water level decreased to 16.2 meters as of noon, according to the Marikina Public Information Office.
Roque said power supply in six out of the 10 cities and municipalities which experienced power outages has already been restored.
Roque added that the Department of Public Works and Highways has conducted clearing operations in Sta. Rosa village in Alaminos, Laguna and Igdalaquit village in Tobias Fornier, Antique.
“Also, there are road and other clearing operations in Pag-asa, Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro; Embrangga-an in Barbaza, Antique; Loacan and Virac in Itogon, Benguet; Alno, La Trinidad in Benguet; [and] Taloy Sur in Tuba, Benguet,” he said.
PAGASA, in its 11 a.m. weather advisory, said heavy to intense with at times torrential rains will prevail over Zambales and Bataan in the next 24 hours.
Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Abra, Benguet, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, and Mindoro provinces will experience moderate to heavy with at times intense rains.
Light to moderate with at times heavy rains will also affect Laguna, Rizal, Quezon, the rest of Cordillera Administrative Region, Marinduque, Romblon, and Northern Palawan, including Calamian Islands.
PAGASA warned against possible flash floods or rain-induced landslides during heavy or prolonged rainfall, especially in areas that are “highly or very highly” susceptible to these hazards.
DOE chief closely monitoring Mimaropa
Meanwhile, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said he is closely monitoring the situation in areas affected by heavy monsoon rains in Mimaropa.
In a statement, Cusi said as the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Mimaropa, he is also closely coordinating with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-Mimaropa and local officials to further assess the situation as well as the needs of responders and the affected families.
"I am closely coordinating with the OCD Regional Director Ruben Carandang and his team for immediate assistance for our local government, rescue operations, and evacuation centers," Cusi said.
He further reminds everyone to also be mindful of health protocols to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in evacuation centers and in response situations.
He also sought the cooperation of local chief executives to work together for a more resilient Mimaropa. (PNA)
