Pangasinan: The southwest monsoon, locally known as 'habagat,' intensified by Typhoon Inday, has commenced bringing varying intensities of rainfall, from light to heavy, across the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union. This weather activity was observed beginning Friday.
According to Philippines News Agency, Pia Flores, the emergency head of Pangasinan's Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), highlighted in a phone interview the weather conditions across different regions of Pangasinan. The eastern region is experiencing scattered and intermittent heavy rains, while the western part is getting light showers. The central region remains under cloudy skies with light rain occurring in the morning.
An advisory released by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration at 5 a.m. placed Pangasinan, La Union, and surrounding provinces under a yellow rainfall warning for Saturday. "It (Inday) continues to enhance the habagat. The habagat is expected to bring 50 to 100 mm. of rainfall to the province on Saturday and Sunday," Flores stated.
The PDRRMO has issued warnings to local authorities and residents, particularly those in low-lying regions, about the potential for rain-induced landslides. Additionally, 23 out of 48 local government units in Pangasinan suspended classes on Friday as a precautionary measure against the typhoon's impact.
Flores noted that the alert status was elevated to blue as of 8 a.m. Thursday, indicating that 60 percent of the personnel and response teams are on standby. Furthermore, the PDRRMO has urged the local fishing community to avoid sailing due to the threat of strong to gale-force winds caused by the enhanced southwest monsoon. "We coordinate with the local authorities to strictly monitor the fisherfolk," Flores added.
In La Union, the second district has been experiencing intermittent rainfall since Friday morning, although no class suspensions had been reported by 10 a.m. The PDRRMO in La Union has reassured that response teams, law enforcement agencies, and both sea- and land-based assets are prepared for immediate deployment if necessary.
