LPA, ITCZ to bring rains in south

MANILA, Philippines — The state weather bureau has monitored a low-pressure area (LPA) 380 kilometers east of Surigao City in Surigao del Norte.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the weather disturbance and intertropical convergence zone will bring moderate to occasionally heavy rain showers and thunderstorms over Eastern Mindanao, Western Visayas and Palawan.

“Residents of these areas are alerted against possible flash floods and landslides. Meanwhile, the rest of Visayas and Mindanao will have scattered light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms,” PAGASA said.

PAGASA also warned the low-pressure area may develop into a tropical depression within the next 24 to 48 hours.

“The public and disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned are advised to continue monitoring for updates,” it added.

Even before the low-pressure area develops into a tropical depression, heavy rains caused flash floods that swept through farms in Sultan Mastura town in Maguindanao Saturday dawn.

Workers of the Humanitarian Emergency Assistance and Response Team (HEART) immediately rescued and relocated residents to areas far from rivers that overflowed overnight due to heavy rains.

The HEART is a rapid deployment disaster action contingent of the Office of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Mujiv Hataman. 

As of yesterday afternoon, HEART rescuers were still out in Barangay Tariken, Sultan Mastura to rescue villagers on high ground surrounded by floodwaters. 

Personnel of the Army’s 603rd Brigade and the Police Regional Office-ARMM were also deployed to help in the rescue operation.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) raised its alert and cancelled Saturday afternoon the sea travel for all types of watercraft plying Zamboanga City and Basilan due to rough sea condition. 

The cancellation left hundreds of passengers bound to and from Basilan stranded at the respective terminals in this city, Isabela and Lamitan cities of Basilan, the PCG said. 

The sea travel halt affected at least 10 trips – two for Lamitan City and eight for Isabela City – causing unwary passengers to be stuck at three different port terminals in Zamboanga City and Basilan. 

Minutes before the cancellation of sea travel, passenger-cargo vessel M/V Trisha Kerstine departed from Zamboanga City. The vessel drifted for hours in the channel between Zamboanga and Basilan, causing anxiety among the families of passengers aboard the vessel. 

Lt. Cmdr. Alvin Dagalea, Coastguard Station commander, said the vessel was bound for Isabela City when its engine shaft stuck up, causing the ship to drift for hours before its engine crew fixed the trouble, finally reaching Basilan safely amidst rough seas.

PCG personnel and its multi-role response vessels and other craft have been placed on alert to respond to possible disaster. – John Unson, Roel Pareño