MANILA, Philippines -The state weather bureau renewed its warning yesterday that the eastern seaboard, including the Bicol region, eastern Visayas and Mindanao, may experience flashfloods and landslides as the La Niña phenomenon continues to dump heavy rains over these areas until March.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) weather branch chief Robert Sawi said the La Niña event is aggravating the rainy season in the eastern seaboard.
“It is really rainy season in Bicol and in eastern Visayas and Mindanao. But since we have a La Niña episode now, the heavy rains in those areas were aggravated,” Sawi said.
“We advise the public to take precautions against heavy rains, particularly those living in low-lying areas, as these areas are vulnerable to flooding and landslides,” he said.
Pagasa officer-in-charge Graciano Yumul said the eastern seaboard is classified under the Type II climate, which has no dry season with pronounced rainfall from November to January.
Yumul said the rains of La Niña would continue until March.
He also blamed global warming for the excessive rainfall, saying that “it increased moisture in the atmosphere.”
At least 33 people perished while over a million have been affected by the recent flooding that hit several parts of the country.
Relief officials led by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Soliman said they have pre-positioned some P33.99 million in funds and relief goods for thousands of families affected by the recent flashfloods.
“The resources are readily available for distribution to augment disaster relief operations of the local government units when necessary,” Soliman said.
Soliman said the DSWD has already provided P6.4-million worth of relief assistance to augment the resources of local government units hit by flashfloods and heavy rains in the affected regions.
Soliman added the number of affected families increased from 133,998 to 171,253 or 839,476 people in 987 barangays in the seven regions.
She said some 5,256 families with 25,016 persons are still being served in 90 evacuation centers while 54,693 families with 278,528 persons are being served outside evacuation centers.
Soliman said more than 2,700 families from the towns of Gandara, Matuguinao, Motiong and San Jorge in Western Samar were affected by floods and landslides.
In Eastern Samar, some 1,216 families were also affected, while 39,182 families were displaced in the municipalities of Catubig, Lapinig, San Roque and Silvino Lobos in Northern Samar.
In the Bicol region, 25 evacuation centers remained open serving 2,032 families with 10,272 persons from the municipalities of Bacacay, Camalig, Daraga, Malilipot, Manito, and Sto. Domingo in Albay, Soliman said.
“The DSWD regional disaster teams in the affected regions continue to operate 24/7 and coordinate with the LGUs to ensure immediate assistance in relief distribution, data generation, and management of evacuation centers,” Soliman said.
PAGASA, on the other hand, sought the help of police and local governments to guard its flood warning devices.
This came after PAGASA’s flood sensors installed at the Agno and Tarlac rivers were reportedly stolen.
Yumul said the sensors would be replaced immediately. He also appealed to the public to guard the flood warning instruments since these devices could save the lives of many people.