THE National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is reminding the public to prepare for the rains and possible floods and landslides from the two low-pressure areas (LPAs) inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility and the northeast monsoon affecting the Northern Luzon.
As of 9 a.m. Sunday, the first LPA was spotted 140 kilometers west northwest of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan while the other one was seen 35 kilometers northeast of Daet, Camarines Norte.
Moderate to heavy rains were experienced Sunday over Eastern Visayas, Bicol Region, Quezon, Aurora, Bulacan, Rizal, Mindoro provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, Dinagat Islands, Calamian Islands, and Kalayaan Islands while light to moderate with at times heavy rains over mainland Cagayan Valley, Metro Manila, the rest of Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula, and the rest of Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and Caraga.
The public has been advised to brace for possible floods or landslides during heavy or prolonged rainfall brought by the weather disturbances.
The two LPAs being monitored are not likely to develop into tropical depression, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.
However, the public and the Local Government Units are reminded to heighten preparedness for the combined effects of the two LPAs.
The NDRRMC also urged RDRRMCs and member agencies to immediately place all necessary preparedness measures for the effects of weather disturbances.
“Even though the weather systems are just LPAs, the public should not be complacent,” DOST Usec Renato Solidum Jr. said. “LPAs bring heavy rains which cause floods and landslides.”
Meanwhile, NDRRMC Executive Director, Undesecretary Ricardo Jalad, said communities located in flood- and landslide-prone areas, especially in the river basins, must remain vigilant and undertake all necessary precautions to ensure their safety.
“We know we are in the holiday season but we must continue to be prepared for any emergency,”Jalad said.
The commencement of flood precaution period for Angat dam was issued by PAGASA in anticipation of the rainfall brought by the LPAs. Advisories on the flood-precaution period for dams are continuously disseminated to areas to be affected.
The NDRRMC, OCD and regional counterparts are continuously cascading advisories, warning and reminding the communities to undertake precautionary measures.
