Combination of LPA, 'habagat' to bring rain across PH

(UPDATE) THE combined effect of the low pressure area (LPA) off Quezon and the southwest monsoon will bring rain in most parts of the country in the next 24 hours, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Thursday.

Pagasa weather specialist Patrick del Mundo said the LPA was estimated at 295 kilometers east of Infanta, Quezon.

WET DAY Nonstop rains flood cities in Metro Manila such as Taft Avenue, on Thursday, July 13, 2023. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the low pressure area spotted in Quezon province and the southwest monsoon may trigger floods and landslides. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO

Del Mundo said the combined effect of the LPA and southwest monsoon is affecting Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Caraga Region and BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) where overcast skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms will be experienced.

“Flash floods or landslides are possible in these areas due to moderate, at times, heavy rains,” del Mundo warned.

The weather bureau said Davao Region and Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City) will likely have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated downpours or thunderstorms due to “habagat.”

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Roadworks exacerbate flooding

The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD)-National Capital Region said flooding in certain areas was aggravated by the closure of drainage systems to facilitate road construction work.

On Thursday, continuous rain triggered floods that resulted in heavy traffic in cities along the South Luzon Expressway Alabang including Taguig, Pateros and Muntinlupa.

The OCD said the floods receded at around 10 a.m. However, localized flooding at the gutter level persisted in certain areas.

It reported no damage to properties and casualties.

The Skyway O&M Corp., in a statement, apologized to motorists affected by the heavy flooding at Skyway At-Grade Bicutan.

“We would like to express our sincerest apologies to motorists affected by the heavy flooding at the Skyway At-Grade (ground level) Bicutan in Parañaque City following continuing moderate to heavy rains since 6:00 PM of Wednesday, July 12 until today, Thursday, July 13, resulting in heavy traffic on both directions of the expressway,” it said.

The company added that the mechanism that worsened the flooding is beyond its direct control.

“These incidents were primarily due to a drainage system problem outside of the Skyway system, which we traced in February this year, due to ongoing construction works in the area that are unrelated to our operations and outside our direct control,” it said.

Skyway O&M Corp. said that it has been in constant coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other government and private sector stakeholders in the area to find a way to address the issue together.

Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Works, called on the DPWH and the Metro Manila Development Authority to act on the persistent problem of flooding in Metro Manila.

“The people are looking at what DPWH was telling that a total of 13,224 flood control structures are readied for the whole country. This kind of problem should not be happening anymore. We should act the soonest possible time,” Revilla said.

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