Pagasa: Scattered rains to continue

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the southwest monsoon would continue to bring scattered rains over Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), Palawan and Mindoro provinces.

However, rains were not expected to be intense and frequent as there is no weather system enhancing it.

 Although it spotted yesterday a new “cloud cluster” over the Pacific Ocean, the weather bureau is not expecting this to develop into a low-pressure area within the next three days.

 “So far the cloud cluster is not affecting any part of the country yet,” PAGASA weather forecaster Meno Mendoza said.

 Still, he warned that sudden downpours could trigger flooding in low-lying areas and landslides in mountainous areas. 

 On Saturday, the low-pressure area off Casiguran, Aurora dissipated after bringing rains in some parts of Luzon and Western Visayas.

 The rest of the country will have partly cloudy skies with isolated rain showers and thunderstorms.

 Four tropical cyclones have entered the Philippine area of responsibility so far this month, inducing monsoon rains that caused severe flooding in many parts of Luzon in the past weeks.

 The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the torrential rains from the three successive cyclones—Henry, Inday and Josie—and the southwest monsoon left nine people dead.

 Most of the victims died due to drowning in the flood brought about by heavy rainfall, according to the NDRRMC.