A river overflowed in Barangay Sta. Fe here on Saturday morning (Aug. 8), with floodwaters spilling onto the barangay bridge and submerging portions of the Sta. Fe National High School amid continuous rains brought by the enhanced southwest monsoon or ‘habagat.’
The San Marcelino Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), however, reported no evacuations, casualties, damaged houses or landslides in the municipality.
The MDRRMO also said major roads and bridges remained passable, while electricity and communication services were in service as of the report.
The Sta. Fe River and Sta. Fe National High School remained under close monitoring, with the barangay disaster risk reduction and management committee undertaking measures to manage the flooding situation.
Barangay officials led by Punong Barangay Rico Diego Arquero and residents also conducted clearing operations to remove debris that had blocked waterways and accumulated on the bridge. Sandbags were also deployed as part of efforts to mitigate the flooding.
In its 8:30 a.m. situational report, the MDRRMO said light to moderate and sometimes heavy rainfall had been recorded in the previous three hours, with cloudy skies and normal wind conditions.
Mayor Elvis Soria, who chairs the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, was closely monitoring the situation, the report said.
The municipal government activated its Emergency Operations Center and response cluster and deployed monitoring teams to high-risk areas.
It also readied disaster response equipment and logistics and instructed barangay disaster risk reduction and management committees to activate their respective emergency operations centers.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Zambales would experience heavy rainfall due to the southwest monsoon, which could trigger flash floods or landslides.
As of 8 a.m. Pagasa said the low-pressure area being monitored outside the Philippine area of responsibility has developed into a tropical depression
Meanwhile, although Typhoon Dolphin has exited the monitoring domain of Pagasa, continuous monitoring remains in effect, as the typhoon continues to exhibit a wobbling motion that may result in its re-entry into the domain.