MANILA, Philippines — More than 17,000 barangays nationwide are facing moderate to very high susceptibility to flooding and rain-induced landslides as the southwest monsoon, or habagat, continues to bring heavy rains across parts of the country.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered local government units (LGUs) to intensify preventive measures and act before weather conditions deteriorate further.
The warning covers the period August 17 to 19, based on hazard information from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB).
DILG orders LGUs to prepare before disasters strike
According to the DILG, LGUs must conduct pre-disaster risk assessments covering flooding, flash floods, rain-induced landslides, debris flows, strong winds and other hazards associated with the current weather disturbance.
Authorities have also been instructed to identify vulnerable communities using their local hydrometeorological hazard maps and preposition personnel, rescue equipment and other resources in areas where emergency response may be needed.
In communities repeatedly affected by flooding or landslides, LGUs have been directed to consider preemptive or mandatory evacuations when conditions warrant.
The DILG also stressed the need to ensure that evacuation centers and health facilities have reliable electricity and functioning generator systems.
PAGASA raises the alarm as rains persist
The weather situation has become more serious since the initial Bombo Radyo report.
PAGASA said the low-pressure area previously cited as a contributing weather system developed into Tropical Depression Neneng at 5 p.m. on August 18.
As of that bulletin, Neneng was located about 1,025 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon, moving northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour, with maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.
PAGASA emphasized that the enhanced southwest monsoon would continue to bring strong to gale-force gusts over large parts of the country, while heavy rainfall associated with the monsoon could still affect areas far from Neneng’s projected track.
Some areas could receive more than 200 millimeters of rain
PAGASA’s 5 p.m. Southwest Monsoon Weather Advisory warned that rainfall could be particularly heavy in mountainous and elevated areas.
For the period from August 18 to August 19, rainfall of 100 to 200 millimeters was forecast over Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro.
Meanwhile, 50 to 100 millimeters of rain was possible in Metro Manila, La Union, Benguet, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Laguna, Rizal and Antique.
PAGASA warned that widespread severe flooding and landslides could occur where rainfall becomes heavier, while numerous flooding events remained possible particularly in urbanized, low-lying areas and communities near rivers.
The agency also cautioned that the effects could be aggravated in places that have already received substantial rainfall in recent days.
Flood warnings already in effect in parts of the country
The threat is not merely theoretical.
PAGASA’s flood monitoring information currently lists flood watches for the Pampanga, Agno and NCR/Pasig-Marikina-Laguna de Bay major river basins, among others.
PAGASA also issued a red rainfall warning for parts of Batangas on Tuesday afternoon, warning of serious flooding in flood-prone areas.
In Oriental Mindoro, PAGASA similarly placed areas under an orange rainfall warning and warned that flooding could threaten low-lying communities and areas near river channels, while landslides remained possible in landslide-prone locations.
Recent rains have already displaced thousands
The latest warning comes after days of severe monsoon rains that have already caused flooding, landslides, road closures and evacuations in several parts of the Philippines.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported earlier this month that authorities had mobilized additional personnel and resources as torrential rains associated with the southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones affected communities across the country.
At that time, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that at least 382,000 people, or about 110,000 families, had been affected, with several regions in Luzon and Mindanao bearing the brunt of the weather.
The same report documented flooding and landslides in various provinces, including Zambales, Benguet, Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya, Abra and Mountain Province, while evacuations were also carried out in parts of Central Luzon and Calabarzon.
Residents urged not to wait for the water to rise
The DILG said disaster preparedness should begin before flooding or landslides occur.
In areas with high landslide susceptibility, residents are strongly encouraged to move to safer ground. Communities where landslides have already occurred should not immediately return home until authorities have assessed the area and declared it safe.
Residents in lower-risk landslide areas are also advised to watch for warning signs, including sudden changes in water flow or instances where normally clear water becomes muddy.
The DILG further directed disaster officials to closely monitor river levels, keep waterways clear and restrict access to known flash-flood-prone areas when necessary.
The bottom line
The 17,000-plus barangays are not all under evacuation orders. The figure refers to communities identified as having moderate to very high susceptibility to flooding and rain-induced landslides based on DENR-MGB hazard information.
But with habagat continuing, Tropical Depression Neneng now in the picture, and several areas already experiencing heavy rainfall and flooding, authorities are urging LGUs and residents to act early rather than wait for conditions to become dangerous.
For residents in flood- and landslide-prone communities, the message from authorities is clear: monitor official warnings, prepare to evacuate when ordered, and do not underestimate rapidly rising water or signs of a possible landslide.
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