MANILA, Philippines — Rains are still expected over parts of Luzon today due to the strong southwest monsoon, the state weather bureau warned yesterday.
Tropical Storm Domeng (international name Maliksi), which exited the Philippine area of responsibility on Sunday and left at least two people dead, has enhanced the southwest monsoon and ushered in the rainy season.
Esperanza Cayanan, head of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)’s weather division, said frequent rains are expected over the provinces of Bataan, Zambales, Pangasinan, Benguet and Ilocos today that may trigger flash floods and landslides over low-lying areas and mountain slopes.
Cloudy skies with occasional rainshowers and thunderstorms will be experienced over the rest of western Luzon, including Metro Manila, and western Visayas.
The remaining areas in Luzon, the Visayas and the whole of Mindanao will be mostly cloudy, apart from early morning or afternoon rainshowers and thunderstorms.
Cayanan said coastal waters of Luzon would be moderate to rough.
PAGASA weather specialist Obet Badrina said gradual improvement in weather condition is expected tomorrow.
Badrina said no tropical cyclone was expected to enter the country in the next few days.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development has released P1,353,600 worth of assistance to 14,096 families or 71,322 persons affected by the flooding incident in the municipalities of Sultan Mastura and Sultan Kudarat.
2 dead
Domeng left at least two people dead. A body of a boy was recovered at the Riverside Hanging Bridge Purok 7 in Barangay Cupang, Antipolo City around 5 p.m. last Sunday.
The boy, around 8 to 15 years old, was wearing a yellow shirt.
Last Friday, Algemon Dalisam Nuñez, 27, of Barangay Corong-Corong in El Nido, Palawan was found dead after he went missing at sea last week while he was looking for a jetski toppled by strong current as Domeng brought heavy rains. He was an employee of Orange Pearl Resort.
The Philippine Coast Guard, El Nido Police and resort personnel immediately conducted search and rescue operations to find Nuñez.
An African national saw the lifeless body of Nuñez on the shore of Corong-Corong around 7:40 p.m. Friday, and alerted local authorities.
Classes, work suspended
Classes and work in government offices in Metro Manila and nearby provinces were suspended yesterday due to heavy rains.
Malacañang suspended work in the executive branch in Metro Manila because of bad weather. The suspension was announced minutes past 2 p.m. and took effect at 3 p.m.
Agencies whose functions involved the delivery of basic health services, preparedness and response to disasters were not covered by the suspension.
Work in courts in Metro Manila was also suspended yesterday afternoon due to the persistent downpour.
Through acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio, the Supreme Court ordered the suspension of work in all courts in the National Capital Region by noon “due to inclement weather arising from continuous monsoon rains.”
Covered by the suspension were the SC and Court of Appeals in Manila, Court of Tax Appeals and Sandiganbayan in Quezon City and all trial courts in NCR.
“For all other courts in other areas, executive judges are given discretion,” the SC’s public information office announced. – With Edu Punay, Alexis Romero, Non Alquitran, Rainier Allan Ronda, Cesar Ramirez