MANILA, Philippines - The southwest monsoon will continue to bring rains over the western section of the country including Metro Manila in the next three days, the state weather bureau said yesterday.
Samuel Duran, weather forecaster of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said cloudy skies with light to moderate rains are expected over Metro Manila, Palawan, Mindoro, Batangas and the western section of Central Luzon until Tuesday.
Duran also warned Metro Manila against the possibility of severe thunderstorms, which may trigger flashfloods.
Heavy rains spawned by thunderstorms inundated several areas in Metro Manila last Tuesday, causing horrendous traffic and stranding hundreds of thousands of motorists and commuters.
Duran said partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of the country.
He added that coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate.
Meanwhile, the low-pressure area (LPA) spotted off the West Philippine Sea last Friday was moving away from the country, according to Duran.
Although the LPA has a high chance of intensifying into a tropical cyclone, Duran said it is unlikely to have a direct effect in any part of the country.
“It (LPA) is likely to intensify into a tropical cyclone but it has a slim chance of entering the Philippine area of responsibility,” he said.
Duran said if the LPA intensifies into a cyclone, it would likely pull the moisture-laden southwest monsoon toward Vietnam.
Aside from the LPA, no other weather disturbance was spotted within and outside the PAR as of yesterday afternoon, Duran said.
Despite, the prevailing “strong” El Niño event, PAGASA still expects two to four cyclones to enter the Philippines this month.
‘Implement environmental laws’
Meanwhile, a group of environmentalists has called for the stringent implementation of two major environmental laws to prevent chronic flashfloods in Metro Manila’s streets.
“We urge all local government units to ensure that Republic Act 9003 and RA 9275 are faithfully enforced in their areas of jurisdiction to minimize floods aggravated by clogged canals and creeks,” said Aileen Lucero, coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition.
RA 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act) prohibits littering, open dumping and other acts that pose harm to health and sanitation, while RA 9275 (Clean Water Act) prohibits the discharging of materials that could cause water pollution or impede natural flow in the watercourse.
“We likewise appeal to all households and business establishments to stop indiscriminate garbage disposal knowing that what we carelessly dispose of will come back to haunt our families and communities. Recklessly thrown discards from the tiny but toxic cigarette filters to the ubiquitous plastic bags and styrofoam containers can block water channels and cause flashfloods,” Lucero said.
“Local authorities should also deploy environmental police to catch and charge offenders,” she said.
Under RA 9003, litterbugs can be fined from P300 to P1,000, compelled to undertake community service or be required to pay the fine as well as render community service, while violators of RA 9275 can be fined not less than P10,000 to not more P200,000 for every day of violation.
Lucero noted that plastic-based waste materials indiscriminately thrown in storm drains and esteros end up polluting Manila Bay. She cited last year’s waste audit conducted by EcoWaste Coalition, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, Greenpeace, and Mother Earth Foundation in Manila Bay that showed plastic waste topping the bay’s flotsam at 61.9 percent. – With Rhodina Villanueva