Brace for severe monsoon rains in Luzon – PAGASA

Prolonged and widespread disruption to day-to-day routine of households and businesses is anticipated in parts of Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales.

PAGASA

MANILA, Philippines —  Monsoon rains are expected to bring a “severe” level of impact in parts of Luzon starting tomorrow, state meteorologists said.

Prolonged and widespread disruption to day-to-day routine of households and businesses is anticipated in parts of Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales.

Thirty-one people have died following the onslaught of tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay and Neneng and the enhanced southwest monsoon, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

As of yesterday, the NDRRMC said three people are missing in Quezon City, Manila and Batangas.

Drowning and electrocution incidents led to the two latest fatalities in Rizal and Occidental Mindoro.

Over 7.7 million people were affected by cyclones and monsoon rains.

Some 346 evacuation centers are providing temporary shelter to about 28,910 people.

More than P1.42 billion worth of assistance has been provided to affected communities.

Damage to infrastructure reached P5.5 billion and agriculture losses hit P1.9 billion.

Up to 104 provinces, cities and towns are in a state of calamity.

In Bulacan, 79 barangays are still submerged in floods.

In Ilocos, farm losses have reached P637.17 million, with rice and high-value crops suffering most of the damage, the Department of Agriculture said yesterday.

Rice accounted for the biggest share of the losses, with damage at P343.55 million while high-value crops posted P179.90 million.

In Pangasinan, the San Roque Dam yesterday started releasing water at a controlled rate amid continuous rains.

The National Power Corp. said the dam’s water level reached 275.45 meters above sea level at 9 a.m.

Communities near the Agno River were advised to stay away from the river. – Michael Punongbayan, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Artemio Dumlao