MANILA – The risk for flooding and rain-induced landslides may not yet wane soon in the western portions of both northern Luzon and Region III (Central Luzon) as the southwest monsoon or "habagat" can further dump significant rainfall next week.
Expected rain from "habagat" can still trigger such hazards in those areas, noted Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) hydrologist Rosalie Pagulayan on Tuesday.
"The risk for those hazards remains high there," she said.
She said communities concerned must prepare accordingly particularly as the western portions of northern Luzon and Region III are already saturated due to weeks of almost continuous rainfall, leaving these areas more susceptible to flooding and landslides.
Such rainfall also raised water level in waterways, making these channels more prone to overflows, she continued.
"Water level in such waterways is not normal at present," she said, adding that water spills may flood surrounding areas.
In its forecast on Tuesday, PAGASA said "habagat" can bring monsoon rain over extreme northern Luzon's Batanes province and Babuyan Islands, northern Luzon's west-lying Region I (Ilocos) and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) provinces of Abra, Apayao and Benguet as well as Zambales and Bataan provinces in the western side of Region III (Central Luzon).
"Habagat" may continue to affect the western portions of northern Luzon and Central Luzon next week and may bring light to moderate to at times even heavy rainfall, noted PAGASA weather forecaster Joey Figuracion.
"We're not seeing the possibility of a monsoon break there next week," he said.
He added that the expected rainfall can trigger flooding and landslides particularly in areas prone to these hazards.
PAGASA cautioned about possible overflow of major waterways in Region I and CAR, including their respective tributaries, due to the expected monsoon rains.
In Region I, major waterways that may be affected are Ilocos Sur province's Lower Abra, Silay-Sta. Maria and Buaya; La Union province's Amburayan, Baroro, Lower Bauang and Aringay; Pangasinan province's Balincaguing and Alaminos as well as Ilocos Norte province's Bulu, Banban, Bacarra-Vintar, Laoag and Quiaoit.
The likely affected CAR waterways are Benguet province's Upper Bauang; Apayao province's Upper Abulug and Upper Pamplona; Abra province's Upper Abra, Tineg and Ikmin as well as all rivers and tributaries in Mountain Province, Kalinga and Ifugao provinces. (PNA)
