Rains to persist due to shear line, LPA, amihan

MANILA, Philippines —  It will still be rainy over most parts of the country today due to the shear line, trough of a low-pressure area and the northeast monsoon.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the low-pressure area, which was still outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) as of yesterday afternoon, was monitored east of Mindanao.

PAGASA is not discounting the possibility that the weather system will enter the PAR.

However, it said there is a low chance that the low-pressure area would develop into a tropical depression.

Scattered rains and thunderstorms will be experienced over Quezon, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Caraga and Davao.

The northeast monsoon or amihan will bring cloudy skies with rain in Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region and Central Luzon.

It will also bring cloudy skies and light rain over Metro Manila and Ilocos provinces, but no significant impact is expected.

95,996 people affected

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it has ramped up relief operations in areas affected by the trough of the low-pressure area.

The DSWD Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center said 22,851 families or 95,996 people in 147 barangays in Mimaropa, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao and Caraga were affected.

The DSWD said concerned local government units have set up 59 evacuation centers, where 3,763 families or 15,892 persons were taking shelter as of Thursday.  At least 131 houses were reportedly damaged by rain and floods.

The department said it has standby emergency funds worth P100 million, which can be tapped for relief operations.

Family food packs and non-food relief items were prepositioned in DSWD warehouses and the Visayas Disaster Resource Center in Mandaue City in Cebu, it added.

Bulacan dams release water

Meanwhile, rain induced by the weather systems raised the water level in Angat, Ipo and Bustos Dams in Bulacan, prompting the operators to release water to protect the dams’ structural integrity.

“The public is strongly advised to stay away from rivers due to the high risk of flood,” the Bulacan provincial public affairs office said in an advisory issued at 9 a.m. yesterday.

Three spill gates in Angat Dam were opened  by up to three meters as the water level was monitored at 216 meters. The dam’s normal high water level is 212 meters.

The water level in Ipo Dam was .51 meters higher than its spilling level of 101 meters yesterday.

The water level in Bustos Dam was still below its spilling level of 17 meters, but water had to be discharged to its downstream river system.

One of the gates in Bustos Dam was opened by three meters as of 8 a.m. yesterday. A rubber gate was also deflated. –  Ramon Efren Lazaro, Rainier Allan Ronda