ZAMBALES, Philippines — Zambales authorities are tightening their watch as the southwest monsoon, or Habagat, continues to bring rain to the province, with officials warning that already vulnerable communities could face renewed flooding and landslides.
Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. has ordered heightened vigilance across Zambales as forecasters expect the monsoon to continue affecting the province and other parts of Luzon.
The warning comes as Zambales continues to deal with damage from weeks of heavy monsoon rains, including flooding, landslides and damage to roads, bridges, river dikes and other critical infrastructure.
PAGASA keeps Zambales under the weather watch
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on September 5 that the Southwest Monsoon is affecting Luzon and the Visayas.
PAGASA forecast occasional rains over Zambales and Bataan, with possible flash floods or landslides in areas that receive moderate to heavy rainfall. Occidental Mindoro was forecast to experience monsoon rains, while several other areas in Luzon were expected to see scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.
PAGASA’s weekly outlook also indicates that the wet pattern is not expected to disappear immediately. Zambales and Bataan are forecast to continue experiencing occasional rains into the following days, while a possible low-pressure area west of Luzon later in the week could potentially enhance the Habagat over western Luzon.
Province already battered by earlier rains
The renewed vigilance is particularly significant because Zambales has already suffered extensive damage from the recent combination of enhanced Habagat and tropical cyclones.
The province declared a state of calamity on August 19 following widespread flooding and damage to agriculture and infrastructure. BusinessMirror reported that the damage had exceeded P591.98 million, while Daily Tribune separately reported the province’s state-of-calamity declaration and substantial infrastructure losses.
Among the most serious concerns has been the Bucao River system in Botolan, where sections of a river dike were destroyed by powerful currents. The river carries large amounts of lahar deposited downstream from Mount Pinatubo, increasing concerns during prolonged periods of heavy rain.
Earlier, Ebdane ordered the preemptive evacuation of residents in Barangay San Juan, Botolan, after inspecting a damaged portion of the Bucao River dike. Officials warned that several low-lying communities could be affected if the structure failed.
Thousands previously forced to evacuate
The scale of the recent flooding has already forced thousands of Zambaleños from their homes.
GMA News reported on August 31 that 3,800 families, or 10,442 individuals, had evacuated to centers because of flooding in several areas, particularly San Marcelino, San Antonio and Cabangan. Ebdane also called for damaged infrastructure to be prioritized for repair as continued rainfall could worsen the situation.
The governor has also pointed to the unusual vulnerability of some communities because of the accumulated lahar and the condition of waterways and flood-control structures.
Santa Fe remains a major concern
One of the communities heavily affected by the recent rains was Barangay Santa Fe in San Marcelino.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited the isolated barangay on September 2 to inspect flood damage and deliver assistance. According to the Presidential Communications Office, around 1,000 affected families received relief goods and cash assistance during the visit. The President also inspected damaged facilities and areas affected by flooding.
Daily Tribune reported that Marcos ordered the immediate repair of the barangay’s dike, school and barangay hall, as well as the construction of a replacement bridge after the existing access infrastructure was damaged.
The situation illustrates why local officials are maintaining a high level of preparedness even when rainfall temporarily eases.
Recent rainfall warnings show the risk
The threat is not merely theoretical.
On September 4, PAGASA issued a Red Rainfall Warning for portions of Zambales and Bataan as heavy Habagat rains affected Central Luzon. In Zambales, the warning covered San Narciso, San Felipe, San Marcelino, Castillejos, San Antonio, Subic and Olongapo.
A red rainfall warning indicates the possibility of serious flooding, particularly in flood-prone areas.
By September 5, PAGASA’s forecast had shifted to occasional rains over Zambales, but authorities continued to warn of potential flooding and landslides because saturated ground and swollen waterways can remain dangerous even after rainfall intensity decreases.
What residents should watch
With Habagat expected to remain active, residents in flood-prone and landslide-prone communities are being urged to remain alert for official advisories, monitor rivers and waterways, and be prepared to evacuate if local authorities issue warnings.
PAGASA’s outlook also suggests that the weather pattern could remain unsettled through the coming week, with a possible weather disturbance later in the week potentially strengthening monsoon rains over western Luzon.
For Zambales, the concern is therefore not simply another rainy day.
The province is entering another period of rainfall while still recovering from significant flood and infrastructure damage — making preparedness, early evacuation and close monitoring of waterways critical in the days ahead.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.S
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