Southwest monsoon weakens – PAGASA

MANILA, Philippines – The rain-bearing southwest monsoon has weakened but a new low-pressure area is expected within the next three days, state meteorologists said yesterday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said cloudy skies with light to moderate and isolated rains will still prevail over the Ilocos region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley and the provinces of Zambales, Bataan and Tarlac today until Friday.

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with chances of isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms will be experienced over Metro Manila and the rest of the country.

PAGASA said a low-pressure area is likely to develop over the Philippine Sea within the next three days.

The low-pressure area, however, was not expected to develop into a tropical cyclone, the weather bureau said.

From Saturday until Monday, the low-pressure area was forecast to enhance the southwest monsoon, which will bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains over Ilocos region and the provinces of Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas and Occidental Mindoro.

PAGASA continued to warn residents in these areas against possible flashfloods and landslides.

The western section of the country has been experiencing heavy rains in the past weeks due to the southwest monsoon.

Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon and Western Visayas will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms during the weekend until Monday.

Mindanao and the rest of the Visayas will have generally fair weather apart from brief showers or localized thunderstorms.

State of calamity

Meanwhile, the town of Hermosa, Bataan was placed under a state of calamity after more than a week of flooding in the area.

In a statement yesterday, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) said the municipal council of Hermosa passed a resolution declaring a state of calamity.

The proposal was approved by the town mayor last Thursday.

Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) chief Jason Enriquez said 11 out of 23 barangays in Hermosa were inundated after being battered by heavy rains triggered by the southwest monsoon from Aug. 13 to 21.

In his report to the RDRRMC, Enriquez said damage to agriculture was pegged at P14.9 million; fisheries, P33.9 million and infrastructure, P21 million. – With Ric Sapnu