Areas in the western section of Luzon are increasingly becoming prone to flooding and rain-induced landslides, according to the weather agency, which warned residents to prepare for such possiblities.
“Such risk is becoming higher,” said Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration hydrologist Adel Duran, citing as reason the increasing saturation of Luzon’s rain-affected western section.
The prevailing enhanced southwest monsoon or “habagat” may bring moderate to, at times heavy, rainfall that can trigger flooding and landslides there, Duran said.
In its 11 a.m. tropical cyclone bulletin on Monday, PAGASA attributed the enhancement of the southwest monsoon or “habagat” at present to severe tropical storm Fabian (international name “In-Fa”) in extreme northern Luzon, and a tropical storm west-northwest of this area.
“Fabian” was 1,055 km east-northeast of extreme northern Luzon as of 10 a.m. Monday and will unlikely bring heavy rainfall over the country.
However, “habagat” rainfall is possible in the next 24 hours over Luzon’s west-lying Region I (Ilocos), Zambales and Bataan provinces of Region III (Central Luzon), as well as Occidental Mindoro and Palawan provinces of Region IV-B (Mimaropa), the weather bureau said.
Either flash floods or landslides may occur there from scattered to widespread moderate to at times heavy rainfall, PAGASA said in its daily weather forecast.
PAGASA noted “habagat” rainfall can raise water level in western Luzon’s major waterways and respective tributaries, and even cause water in these channels to overflow and flood surrounding areas.
Major Ilocos waterways that can be affected are La Union province’s Amburayan, Baroro, Lower Bauang and Aringay; Ilocos Norte province’s Bulu, Banban, Bacarra-Vintar, Laoag and Quiaoit; Pangasinan province’s Balincaguing and Alaminos and Ilocos Sur province’s Lower Abra, Silay-Sta. Maria and Buaya.
In Cordillera Administrative Region, the major waterways are Benguet province’s Upper Bauang and Abra province’s Upper Abra, Tineg and Ikmin.
Major Central Luzon waterways that can be affected are Bataan province’s Balanga and Morong as well as Zambales province’s Pamatawan, Sto. Tomas, Bucao, Bancal and Lawis, PAGASA said.
The Mimaropa waterways are Palawan province’s Abongan, Lian, Barbakan, Rizal, Caramay, Langogan, Babuyan, Bacungan, Iwahig Penal, Inagauan, Aborlan, Malatgao, Apurauan, Baton-Baton, Aramaywan, Ihawig, Panitian, Pulot, Lamakan, Kinlugan, Eraan, Tiga Plan, Malabangan, Ilog, Bansang, Conduaga, Culasian, Iwahig (Brookes), Okayan, Canipaan and Busuanga, Coron; Occidental Mindoro province’s Abra de Ilog, Caguray, Labangan, Magbando, Lumintao, Anahawin, Monpong, Amnay, Pola, Pagbahan, Mamburao and Ibod; Oriental Mindoro province’s Malaylay-Baco, Pulang Tubig, Mag-asawang Tubig, Butas, Pula, Agsalin, Bansud, Sumagui, Bongabong, Baroc, Bulalacao and Balete as well as all rivers and tributaries in Romblon province.
PAGASA said that “Fabian” was moving northwestwards at 15 kph while packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kph near its center and gustiness of up to 115 kph.
“Fabian” may already be outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Wednesday morning (July 21).
Even if “Fabian” crosses the PAR boundary, PAGASA expects this severe storm to continue enhancing “habagat” while moving away from the country.
However, PAGASA advised residents and disaster managers in Batanes and Babuyan Islands to continuously monitor the tropical cyclone bulletins as any further southward shift in the forecast track may result in the hoisting of TCWS no. 1 over these areas.
Fabian” continues to enhance the southwest monsoon. As such, moderate to rough seas will continue to prevail over the western seaboard of Palawan including Kalayaan Islands.
Mariners of small seacrafts are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to the sea. Likewise, inexperienced mariners should avoid navigating in these sea conditions.
The southwest monsoon enhanced by “Fabian” will cause rains over Ilocos Region, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, and Palawan in the next 24 hours, PAGASA said.
