PAGASA: LPA may enter PAR, enhance Habagat next week

A low pressure area (LPA) may enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and enhance the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat by next week, state weather bureau PAGASA said on Friday.

Interviewed on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon, PAGASA weather specialist Ana Clauren-Jorda said the agency is monitoring two tropical cyclone threats and one of them is an LPA already near the PAR.

“Inaasahan po natin na ito ay papasok sa ating area of responsibility next week (We expect that it will enter our area of responsibility next week),” Jorda said.

“Yung epekto po niya mas binabantayan natin yung posibleng hatak niya sa Habagat na magdudulot po ng maulan na panahon po ulit sa atin dito sa Metro Manila pati na rin sa western sections ng Luzon by next week,” she added.

(We are monitoring more on its possible pull to the Habagat, which will bring rains again here in Metro Manila as well as in the western sections of Luzon by next week.)

The other tropical cyclone threat is expected to enter the PAR by mid-September, according to Jorda. It is also expected to enhance the Habagat.

Due to the impact of Habagat and Tropical Cyclone Enteng recently, a total of 16 people have been reported to have died and 17 others remained missing, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.

Floods and landslides were reported in different parts of Luzon and the Visayas.

A total of 2,061,726 people or 538,602 families were affected in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, the Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Cordillera, and Metro Manila.

Damage to infrastructure worth P223,602,718 and to agriculture worth P4,333,159 were reported. For irrigation facilities, a total of P1,080,000 worth of damage was reported.

A total of 5,965 houses were damaged — 5,858 partially and 107 totally.

A state of calamity was declared in Naga City, the entire province of Camarines Sur, and Allen town in Northern Samar.

Assistance worth P92,636,750 has been provided to the victims so far, according to the NDRRMC.

Enteng exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday morning. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News