Brace for renewed flooding, landslides due to 'habagat'

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) called on the public on Sunday, Aug. 10, to prepare anew for the possible impact of the southwest monsoon (habagat), including widespread flooding and landslides.

- By MARTIN SADONGDONG and ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ

OCD Officer-in-Charge Asst. Sec. Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said the threat of habagat still persists. This, even as tropical Cyclone “Fabian” had minimal impact on the country as it exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Saturday, Aug. 9, while a tropical storm with international name “Podul” which will be named “Gorio” upon entering the PAR by Sunday night or Monday morning would be unlikely to directly affect the country.

“It is good news that Tropical Cyclone Fabian did not affect the country and Podul is unlikely to directly affect us. However, we should not be complacent, as we still face the threats posed by the southwest monsoon, or 'habagat' which may lead to renewed floods and landslides,” he said on Sunday, Aug. 10.

A Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecast showed that habagat would bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over Mimaropa (Region 4B), Western Visayas (Region 6), Bicol (Region 5), and Quezon while partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will persist over Metro Manila and the rest of the country.

Light to moderate speeds of wind and coastal water conditions will also be experienced nationwide.