MANILA, Philippines – Nearly 7,000 families have been evacuated as part of preemptive action against possible flooding which may be triggered by the continuous rains brought by the northeast monsoon, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said Thursday.

In its situation report, the NDCC said that a total of 6,656 families were evacuated from 31 villages in the towns of Ilagan, Benito Soliven, San Mateo and Delfin Abano in Isabela province.

In the towns of Casiguran and Dilasag in Aurora province, 166 families have been evacuated to four evacuation centers after 18 villages were submerged in floodwaters ranging from waist to neck-deep, the NDCC said.

Also in Isabela, several roads and bridges have been rendered impassable due to flood waters. These include the Cansan Overflow Bridge in Cabagan; Minanga Bridge in San Mariano connecting Poblacion; Alicaocao Bridge in Cauayan City; Diator Overflow Bridge in Angandanan connecting San Guillermo; Sitio Pugo and Maluno Norte in Bineto Soliven near boundary of Ilagan and Barangay Cabisera 4 in Ilagan town.

Meanwhile, in Cagayan, the Tawi overflow bridge in Peñablanca, the Pinacanauan Bridge in Tugueagarao City, and the Bagunut and Abusag Overflow bridge in Baggao were also impassable due to floodwaters, the NDCC said.

The Aurora Road in Cabangan River, Barangay Villa Aurora, Maria Aurora town in Nueva Ecija is also impassable to all types of vehicles due to flood waters, the NDCC added.

Meanwhile, in its latest weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that no tropical cyclone is within the Philippine's area of responsibility but the northeast monsoon is expected to bring rains over most parts of the country.

Northern Luzon will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers, Pagasa said.

Central and Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms, state-run weather bureau said.
Rains will become widespread over the eastern sections of the country which may trigger flashfloods and landslides, Pagasa warned.