By Brian Campued
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has raised its alert status to red as the southwest monsoon (habagat) continues to bring moderate to heavy, at times intense, rainfall over Luzon and parts of Visayas.
The alert status was heightened in adherence to National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Memorandum no. 237, s. 2026, which raised the national alert status from blue to red on Friday afternoon.
In its memorandum, the NDRRMC noted that the prolonged rainfall has been causing soil saturation and rising water levels in waterways, increasing the risk of flooding and landslides.
“Areas that have already experienced significant rainfall and flooding remain particularly vulnerable, as further rainfall may aggravate existing conditions and prolong flooding,” the council stated.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), habagat will continue to bring up to intense rains (100-200 mm) over Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, La Union, Benguet, Bataan, Zambales, Tarlac, and Pampanga between Saturday, Aug. 29, to Sunday noon, Aug. 30.
Moderate to heavy rains (50-100 mm) are expected over Ilocos Norte, Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, and Oriental Mindoro during the same period.
From Sunday noon to Monday noon, Aug. 31, heavy to intense rains are forecast over Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Benguet, Zambales, and Bataan, while moderate to heavy rains will drench Apayao, Kalinga, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas, and Occidental Mindoro.
Two low pressure areas (LPAs) are also being monitored outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), with low and medium chances of developing into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours. These weather systems are not expected to directly affect the country but may influence the habagat, contributing to the persistence of rainfall over affected areas.
Amid the effects of the inclement weather, the DSWD assured the public that the government stands ready to ensure a timely and well-coordinated response in potentially affected areas, while relief efforts in already affected communities continue.
As of 6:00 a.m. this Aug. 29, the DSWD has P605 million in standby funds and over P4.23 billion worth of relief resources, including 3,524,177 family food packs (FFPs), 287,848 non-food items, and 305,415 ready-to-eat foods, ready for immediate deployment to affected communities.
“Guided by the directive of DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian that no family should go hungry and be left behind, the DSWD remains on alert 24/7 across the country, ready to respond to the needs of affected communities,” the department said.
-jpv
