Philippines braces for southwestern monsoon floods

Bacoor, Philippines, Jun 9 (efe_epa). —  As Typhoon Nepartak lashed southeastern Taiwan last week, a southwestern monsoon bolstered by the windstorm bore down on the Philippines, on Saturday prompting rainfall warnings in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces.

The government on Saturday issued rainfall alerts throughout Metro Manila, Zambales, Bataan and Cavite provinces while advising local authorities to prepare basketball shelters, schools and other public spaces as possible evacuation sites in case of floods, according to an epa journalist.

“Quick response teams are now monitoring the situation in the provinces of Bataan, Zambales and Bulacan,” said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy Taguiwalo in a statement, adding that the emergency personnel and 30,000 foodpacks are on standby for a possible emergency.

The Philippine government weather division (PAGASA) also issued a gale warning on Saturday for Luzon, noting that sea conditions would rough to very rough with waves up to 5 meters high and winds up to 68 kilometers per hour in the northern seaboards.

The passing of Typhoon Nepartak, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Butchoy, collided with the southwestern monsoon on Friday, also prompting authorities to ground 18 international and domestic flights, the Manila Bulletin reports.