Public urged to brace for possible floods, landslides

FILE: A cyclist waves while pushing his bike at the flooded Gil Fernando Avenue in Marikina City on Thursday (Nov. 12, 2020). Floods submerged the city due to heavy rains from Typhoon Ulysses, more than a decade after the similar onslaught of Tropical Storm Ondoy. (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

MANILA – Malacañang on Sunday urged the public to brace for possible floods and landslides brought about by two low pressure areas (LPAs) and the northeast monsoon.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made this remark after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced that two LPAs inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility are expected to bring moderate to heavy rains in many parts of the country within 24 hours.

“This is to inform that the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) conducted a meeting today, December 27, 2020, regarding the two low pressure areas (LPAs) and the northeast monsoon which have brought prolonged rainfall to the country,” he said in a statement.

He urged the public to monitor the news for updates regarding evacuation and other relief and response operations.

“We ask the public to continue following their local officials, monitor the latest PAGASA advisory, and be prepared in case there is an evacuation,” he said.

Despite the inclement weather, Roque explained that it is important to continue observing minimum health standards amid the prevailing pandemic.

“We must not forget or ignore all the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of everyone, including the observance of minimum public health standards, such as wearing of masks/ shields, washing of hands, and maintaining social distancing. Gawin pa rin natin ang Mask, Hugas, Iwas (Let’s continue to use our masks, wash our hands, and observe physical distancing),” he said.

He also assured that the executive branch continues to work during this holiday season to ensure the health and safety of everyone.

As of 3 p.m. Sunday, the first LPA was spotted 190 kilometers west northwest of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan while the other one was seen 40 kilometers northeast of Daet, Camarines Norte.

Moderate to heavy rains will be experienced today over Eastern Visayas, Bicol Region, Quezon, Aurora, Bulacan, Rizal, Mindoro provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, Dinagat Islands, Calamian Islands, and Kalayaan Islands.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains over mainland Cagayan Valley, Metro Manila, the rest of Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula, and the rest of Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and Caraga.

The two LPAs being monitored are not likely to develop into tropical depression, PAGASA said.

However, the public and the local government units were urged to heighten preparedness for the combined effects of the two LPAs.

PAGASA issued the commencement of flood precaution period for Angat Dam in anticipation of the rainfall brought by the LPAs. Advisories on the flood-precaution period for dams are continuously disseminated to areas to be affected.