The country’s weather conditions are expected to gradually improve beginning Tuesday, August 11, as the effects of the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat begin to ease.
During a Malacañang press briefing on Monday, PAGASA Administrator Nathaniel Servando said areas experiencing heavy rainfall are expected to decrease starting tomorrow, with further improvement anticipated by Wednesday.
“Starting tomorrow, ang mga ulan at mga lugar na maaapektuhan ng malakas na pag-ulan ay mababawasan at gradually mag-i-improve na ang weather starting tomorrow and Wednesday,” Servando said.
Despite the expected improvement, Servando noted that the recent weather disturbances, including Tropical Cyclones Luis and Maymay, as well as the effects of Habagat and Typhoon Dolphin outside PAR, have already brought significant amounts of rainfall to several areas, particularly in western Luzon.
Baguio City, for instance, recorded 1,413 millimeters of rainfall from August 1 to 9—significantly higher than its normal August rainfall of 963 millimeters.
Servando said the amount of rain recorded in just nine days was equivalent to nearly one and a half months’ worth of rainfall.
In Iba, Zambales station, PAGASA recorded 957 millimeters of rain from August 1 to 9, compared with the area’s normal August rainfall of 929 millimeters. This means the station received about 103% of its normal monthly rainfall in only nine days.
Meanwhile, the Science Garden station in Quezon City recorded 501.6 millimeters of rain during the same period, compared with the normal August rainfall of 568 millimeters—nearly 90% of the monthly average.
Servando urged residents, particularly those in areas affected by heavy rains, to remain vigilant and continue monitoring official advisories from the government and concerned agencies.
“Ang DOST-PAGASA ay patuloy na nagmomonitor at pinapayuhan natin ang ating mga kababayan lalo na sa mga affected areas na maging vigilant at, if possible, mag-rely sa mga official advisories na ibibigay ng pamahalaan at ahensya,” he said.
As of Monday, the Southwest Monsoon continues to affect Luzon and the western section of the Visayas.
OCD: More than 1.3 million people affected by Habagat
The Office of Civil Defense reported that 384,520 families or around 1.31 million individuals have been affected by the enhanced Southwest Monsoon or Habagat.
OCD Deputy Administrator for Operations Assistant Secretary Laurence E. Mina said 16,130 families, or 58,650 individuals, are currently staying in 624 evacuation centers.
Another 11,360 families, or 39,290 individuals, are being assisted outside evacuation centers.
The OCD also reported 367 houses damaged by the weather disturbances—27 totally damaged and 340 partially damaged.
Meanwhile, 12 deaths, eight missing persons and 11 injuries have been reported in Regions 1, the Cordillera Administrative Region and Calabarzon.
The OCD said validation of the reported casualties is still ongoing.
