UMBRELLA DAY | Students of Dagupan City National High School use umbrellas to shield themselves from the rain dumped by the enhanced southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” in this photo taken on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. The biggest secondary school in Dagupan opted to continue holding classes despite the inclement weather, unlike other schools in at least 10 localities in Pangasinan province that suspended classes due to heavy rains. (Photo by WILLIE LOMIBAO / Inquirer Northern Luzon)
LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte, Philippines — Inclement weather due to the enhanced southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” was experienced in a large part of northern and central Luzon, prompting several local government units to suspend classes on Tuesday.
In Ilocos Norte, classes in the towns of Solsona and Vintar were suspended to ensure the safety of the students following the incessant rains, according to their respective local governments.
Classes were also suspended in Batac City and the towns of Pinili, Marcos, Carasi, Pagudpud, Currimao, Pasuquin, Bacarra, also all in Ilocos Norte.
Overcast skies
In a weather bulletin on Tuesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the Ilocos region (Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, La Union, Pangasinan), and the provinces of Zambales (Central Luzon) and Batanes (Cagayan Valley) experienced heavy and intense rains caused by habagat.
The Cordillera region also experienced overcast skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon.
The state weather bureau and the Office of Civil Defense warned of flash floods and landslides in these areas, especially in low-lying communities and those near rivers and mountain slopes.
In Pangasinan, at least 10 local government units suspended classes in both public and private schools in their jurisdictions as the province experienced cloudy skies with scattered rain, thunder and lightning.
Classes at all levels were suspended in the towns of Bani, Bolinao, Aguilar, Mangatarem, Urbiztondo, Calasiao, Malasiqui, Basista and San Carlos City.
In Pangasinan’s Infanta town, only classes from preschool to senior high school were suspended.
Yellow, orange alerts
The enhanced southwest monsoon also dumped heavy rains over Olongapo City and nearby Zambales province on Tuesday, forcing the suspension of classes from elementary to high school level, both in public and private schools.
In an advisory, Olongapo Mayor Rolen Paulino Jr. said the class suspension was necessary after Pagasa issued a yellow rainfall alert for the city.
Under the heavy rainfall warning system, a yellow rainfall advisory is raised when the expected rainfall amount is between 7.5 millimeters and 15 millimeters within one hour and likely to continue.
Paulino also advised the students to stay home as torrential rain threatened to trigger floods in the city.
In Zambales, classes in the towns of Subic, Castillejos, San Felipe, Cabangan, Botolan, Iba, Masinloc, Candelaria and Sta. Cruz were also suspended due to the bad weather.
Pagasa issued an orange rainfall alert to the entire province as cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms were also experienced there.
FLOODED STREET | A number of streets in Ilocos Norte’s capital Laoag City are flooded on Tuesday due to incessant rain spawned by the southwest monsoon, including this road in front of the provincial police headquarters. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
The orange rainfall advisory is raised in areas where rainfall is between 15 mm and 30 mm within an hour. Flooding is a definite threat in communities under orange alert, the weather bureau warned.
Reminder
“That is why we would like to remind our fellow Filipinos to remain cautious of the possible flash floods or landslides that may be caused by heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon,” Pagasa weather specialist Veronica Torres said Tuesday.
She added that no typhoons were expected to enter the country soon, a few days after Typhoon “Chedeng” (international name: Guchol) moved away from the Philippine area of responsibility. The typhoon had enhanced the effects of the southwest monsoon, based on the recent forecasts by Pagasa.
On the other hand, Metro Manila and other parts of the country could expect a more fair weather but with possibilities of localized thunderstorms in the afternoon and at night, Torres said.