WITH THREE TROPICAL storms battering the country in the past week or so, continuous heavy downpour of torrential rains are expected to flood many areas across the archipelago. These were caused by the southwest monsoon or habagat triggered by consecutive tropical storms “Crising”, “Dante”, and “Emong”.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), heavy rains reaching to almost 200 millimeters is expected to drench Metro Manila, including the nearby provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, and Rizal.
Signal Number 3 is still up over the northern portion of Pangasinan and the western portion of La Union while Signal No. 2, is up over Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, the rest of La Union, the western portion of Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, the central portion of Pangasinan, and the western portion of Nueva Vizcaya.
Still in Luzon, signal no. 1 was raised over Batanes, Cagayan Including Babuyan Islands, the western and central portions of Isabela and the rest of Nueva Vizcaya.
WARNING
Meanwhile, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has warned residents living near Mayon Volcano in Albay on the possibility of volcanic flows or lahar even as the heavy rains could cause land inundation, accidental burials as well as landslides.
In Parañaque City, Mayor Edwin Olivarez has been quick to respond to the distress calls of his constituents, visiting the several evacuation sites in the city to provide immediate assistance, both in relief goods and monetary aid. The mayor also conduct clean-up operation to ensure the safety and Healthcare of evacuees.
In Manila, Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso visited evacuation centers in Santa Cruz and Baseco where 1,289 individuals are taking shelter. He announced plans to declare a state of calamity in the city even as he asked barangay officials to prepare necessary documents to immediately access their calamity funds.
In Caloocan City, residents in Maypajo and other parts in the southern portion of the city gave notice regarding the apparent lack of responsive empathy of Mayor Dale Gonzalo Malapitan to his constituents farthest away from his bailiwick in North Caloocan. As of press time, no relief or assistance has been given to affected residents in the several barangays located in South Caloocan.