The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has cautioned the public to be prepared after three weather systems were forecasted to bring heavy rainfall in parts of Luzon and Visayas which are still reeling from the devastation of recent storms.
NDRRMC executive director Ricardo Jalad said a low pressure area (LPA) entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Sunday evening while the tail-end of a frontal system and the seasonal northeast monsoon have also been affecting the country.
"The regional and local disaster risk reduction and management councils, and the public are advised to take precautionary measures as flooding and rain-induced landslides in highly susceptible areas may occur during heavy rainfall," Jalad said in a statement.
As of 11 a.m. Tuesday, the LPA was located at 85km east northeast of Borongan City, Eastern Samar and was forecasted to move closer towards the Eastern Visayas and Bicol regions, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
However, the state weather bureau noted that the LPA remains less likely to develop into a tropical depression in the next 24 hours.
Citing the rainfall forecast of Pagasa, Jalad said moderate to heavy rains may persist over Bicol Region while light to moderate rains with at times heavy rains may prevail over the eastern portions of mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, and Eastern Visayas.
Meanwhile, Bicol Region, Quezon, Aurora, the norhtern and eastern portion of mainland Cagayan, eastern portion of Isabela, and Apayao may exxperience moderate to heavy rains until Wednesday,
Light to moderate with at times heavy rains will also be experienced over the rest of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), the rest of Calabarzon (Region 4A), Mindoro provinces, Marinduqu, romblon, and parts of Visayas.
"The regional disaster risk reduction and management councils are now holding pre-disaster risk assessment (PDRA) meetings in preparation for the effects of the three weather systems," Jalad noted.
He advised the public to follow the weather warnings from local officials, and prepare an emergency bag in case a pre-emptive evacuation in their area is implemented.
"We remind the local government units to conduct the necessary actions to ensure the safety of the people in the communities. Prepare the evacuation centers, disseminate the weather signals, and conduct pre-emptive evacuation," Jalad said.
The regions of Bicol and Cagayan Valley were battered by Super Typhoon "Rolly" and Typhoons "Quinta" and "Ulysses" in the past two months which resulted in the loss of many lives and destruction of multi-billion worth of agricultural products and infrastructures.