Pangasinan: The province of Pangasinan remains on alert for the effects of Tropical Depression Bising and the southwest monsoon (habagat). This, despite the downgrade of the rainfall outlook hoisted in the province from orange (100 to 200 millimeters of rainfall) on Thursday to yellow (50 to 100 millimeters of rainfall) as of 11 a.m. Friday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) provided the updated rainfall outlook. In a phone interview on Friday, Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office's Emergency Operations Center head Pia Flores said the province is under blue alert status since Thursday in accordance with the guidelines of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD).
In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive on disaster preparedness, the OCD raised the alert status to Blue Alert and continues 24/7 monitoring in partnership with PAGASA. A blue alert means officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, and Philippine National Police will be on duty to respond to issues and requests from regional disaster councils and partner agencies.
"Government agencies and local units are mobilizing resources, activating response plans, and issuing advisories. The public is urged to stay alert and follow official updates," the OCD said. Flores mentioned that the weather disturbance is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon and will be experienced especially in the western portion and mountainous or higher areas in the province.
"We ask everybody to always be prepared especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas, since this is the habagat season. Even without the weather disturbance, the province experiences thunderstorms and rainfall," she added. Twenty-six of 47 local government units suspended classes on Friday due to expected inclement weather.
A heavy rainfall warning provides forecasts for the next three hours and applies up to the municipal level. It is more precise as it utilizes Doppler radar technology to track real-time rainfall intensity, making it highly effective for immediate decision-making in flood-prone areas, it stated.
