MANILA – The low-pressure area (LPA) located near Davao City on Saturday is expected to bring some rains to Mindanao.
In its 3 a.m. weather forecast, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the LPA, estimated at 230 km. east of Davao City, will bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms to Mindanao.
In addition, Severe Tropical Storm Mindulle (international name) was last located at 1,725 km. east of central Luzon, outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy skies with isolated rain showers.
Light to moderate winds will blow over Luzon and the Visayas headed northeast, with slight to moderate coastal water conditions.
In Mindanao, winds will also be light to moderate but headed northwest to southwest, with slight to moderate coastal water conditions.
The temperature in Metro Manila will range from 24°C to 33°C; Baguio City, 16°C to 25°C; Legazpi City, 25°C to 33°C; Metro Cebu, 26°C to 32°C; and Metro Davao, 25°C to 32°C.
Flooding, landslide risk
The Buayan-Malungon River Basin Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (BMRBFFWC) also warned on Saturday of flooding, rain-induced landslides, and even riverbank erosion in Mindanao.
"In anticipation of rainfall distribution scenario, the whole stretch of main Buayan River including its major tributaries, secondary streams, and small creeks will likely continue to significantly rise to their respective peak levels within the forecast period," BMRBFFWC said in its advisory.
Aside from Buayan River, BMRBFFWC said also likely to be affected are the Malungon, Lumabat, Domoloc, Mainit, Mlanob, Talipara, Linao, Latian, Maribulan, Tinagacan, and Mateo rivers.
Rain-induced landslides may likewise strike mountainsides of upstream areas in Tupi, Tampakan, Malita, Malalag, Santa Maria, Malungon and Alabel, it added.
Buayan-Malungon river basin is among the country's 18 major river basins, stretching over some 150,510 hectares in the southern and central portions of Mindanao and covering Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental provinces in Region 11 (Davao) as well as Sarangani and South Cotabato provinces in Region 12 (Soccsksargen).
The BMRBFFWC advised communities along the Buayan-Malungon river basin to undertake precautionary measures.
It said there is a "high chance of local flooding due to accumulation of rainwater at low-lying areas and those with poor drainage system and at the riverside and coastal areas affected by tide particularly in downstream areas in Alabel and General Santos City”.
Communities and LGUs concerned must likewise continuously monitor government updates on weather in Buayan-Malungon river basin, BMRBFFWC noted.
The water levels in Maribulan River and its secondary stream were still below alert levels as of 8 a.m. Saturday. (PNA)
