The rains are here. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) had announced on May 18 the start of the rainy season after heavy rains during the past days of that week. Records show that PAGASA usually declares the rainy season to start between the second half of May and the first half of June. Based on past records, last year, in 2021, the state weather agency declared the start of the rainy season on June 4. In 2020, it came on June 12; in 2019, it was declared to start on June 14. But it was in May 2009 when the rainy season came the earliest — on May 3. Publications where general weather conditions in the Philippines are announced, such as in travel brochures, say that the rainy season here is from June to November, while the dry season is from December to May. According to a report, “most rainy days are in June, July, August, September and October. Manila has dry periods in February, March and April. On average, August is the most rainy with 22 days of rain.” Last April, the Philippines had two tropical cyclones– Agaton (Megi) and Basyang (Malakas). Agaton lingered inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and caused the death of more than 200 people, mostly in Eastern Visayas, and some ₱3 billion in damages to crops and infrastructure. The early coming of the rains, though, has benefited the source of Metro Manila’s water supply. PAGASA on Wednesday, May 25, said the water level in Angat Dam may no longer dip below its 180-meter minimum operating level until the end of June, following the rains in the past few months. As of 6 a.m., Wednesday, Angat Dam’s water level was at 190.60 meters, down 0.15 meters from Tuesday’s 190.75 meters, but still within the rule curve elevation of 184.14 meters. PAGASA defines the rule curve as the minimum reservoir elevation needed to be maintained by dam operators to ensure the availability of water for irrigation, power generation, and domestic supply. “It has already surpassed the rule curve so we can say that the water level in Angat is safe. We have already passed the dry season without the water level falling like in previous years,” Edgar dela Cruz, weather facilities specialist of the PAGASA’s Hydro-Meteorological Division, said. Given the forecast rainfall of 316 millimeters and dam allocation of 75 cubic meters per second, Angat Dam’s water level will be at 188.27 meters by the end of June, and will be above its 181.90-meter rule curve elevation, the state weather agency said. Angat Dam supplies 98 percent of Metro Manila’s water requirements. With the rainy season here, it’s also time to take stock of things that can be affected by the heavy rains, like portions of a community, a private residential lot, a house, or even one’s motor vehicle. Some preparedness will do much to prevent damage and a lot of inconvenience. Start with small personal initiatives that directly affect you, like checking on the condition of a vehicle’s wipers, or cleaning canals in the garden. It will create a ripple effect to shield your family from the rains.