The cities of Manila, Marikina, Pasig, Quezon, Caloocan, Navotas and Valenzuela in the National Capital Region may experience rain-induced landslides and floods until July 6 due to the threats of a low pressure area and the southwest monsoon, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Mines and Geosciences Bureau on Thursday warned.
“The threshold values were lowered in Metro Manila due to the nature of flooding in highly urbanized areas, wherein the rains are not readily absorbed by the land. This leads to increased surface runoff that overwhelms the drainage system and causes flooding in low-lying areas as well as those proximal to waterways,” it said.
The warning covers 117 barangays in Manila, 131 in Marikina, 16 in Pasig, one in Quezon, 92 in Caloocan, 18 in Malabon and 33 in Valenzuela.
The DENR-MGB also identified Cagayan’s 103 villages, Isabela’s 15 villages, Zambales’ 68 villages, Bataan’s 14 villages, Apayao’s eight villages, Kalinga’s five villages and Ilocos Sur’s 39 villages as susceptible to rain-induced landslides and floods.
The MGB’s advisories were based on its rainfall accumulation forecast for rain-induced landslides and flood.
The bureau urged concerned local governments to deploy Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office personnel to monitor the rapid increase or decrease of floodwater level from active river systems.
It also recommended that preemptive evacuation must be done if the floodwaters are about to reach 0.5 meters.
Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense convened a virtual Emergency Operations Center (EOC) meeting yesterday to align government preparations in response to the LPA spotted east northeast of extreme northern Luzon.
“There is no room for complacency. We are already working with all stakeholders to prepare for the worst-case scenario. This is about ensuring readiness before a threat becomes a crisis,” said Assistant Secretary Cesar Idio, Deputy Administrator for Operations.
Malacañang will study the request of Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla to be granted authority to suspend classes during typhodons.
Remulla earlier said he would ask President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for such authority, citing his experience as a long-time governor of Cavite and the need for timely announcements during tropical cyclones.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said there is no official response to Remulla’s proposal yet.
“This will be studied if it will truly benefit the majority,” Castro said.
She clarified that the current system of localized decision-making remains in place.