WHILE still reeling from days of non-stop rains, parts of Northern and Central Luzon are experiencing heavy rainfall that may last until the end of the month due to the southwest monsoon, the government weather bureau said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said moderate to heavy rain is forecast over Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan and Occidental Mindoro today until tomorrow, August 28; while Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, Abra, La Union, Cavite and Batangas will experience moderate to heavy rain from Friday until Saturday.
The inclement weather will continue until August 29, affecting Ilocos Sur, Abra, La Union, Pangasinan, Bataan, Pampanga, Cavite, and Batangas, and Ilocos Norte.
Pagasa said that more areas will experience moderate to heavy rainfall until August 30, including locos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, and Batangas.
Meanwhile, Heavy rainfall is forecasted over Benguet, Zambales, and Occidental Mindoro until August 30. This means that 100 to 200 mm of rain is expected to pour during the period.
Under such conditions, Pagasa said flooding is likely, especially in areas that are urbanized, low-lying, or near rivers. Moreover, the weather bureau warned that landslide is likely in moderate to highly susceptible areas.
Zambales, one of the provinces hardest hit by flooding, remains under a state of calamity.
Heavy rainfall over the past three weeks has triggered flashfloods, caused severe flooding and induced landslides that claimed 31 people and injured 19 others, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
Search and rescue operations are still ongoing for three other persons.
NDRRMC reported that at least 2.2 million families or 7.7 million persons were affected, with 8,200 families or 28,000 persons still seeking refuge in 325 different evacuation centers.
The NDRRMC said the severe flooding in various low-lying areas in Luzon damaged a total of 2,800 houses.
According to authorities, damage to public and private infrastructure has now reached P5.59 billion while damage to crops has now reached P1.91 billion.
The government said some P1.56 billion has been spent to assist the affected families.
According to the NDRRMC, 104 cities and municipalities are still under states of calamity.