BAGUIO CITY – Minor landslides and fallen trees were reported here and in the province of Benguet due to the southwest monsoon (habagat) even after the exit of Severe Tropical Storm Enteng.
Julius Santos, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) officer, said in a media interview Friday that the red alert has not been lifted yet as monsoon rains and thunderstorms continue.
The minor landslide and soil erosion incidents were recorded in Barangay Gabriela Silang here on Wednesday, but have been cleared by village workers using equipment from the city engineering office.
He said fallen trees were reported along Ferguson Road on Thursday.
“Right now, we are waiting for updates of the ongoing clearing operation in Barangay Loakan where rocks from a riprap were reported to have eroded and covered portions of the road,” he said.
He said the average rainfall for a 24-hour period starting 8 a.m. of Sept. 5 was at 81.4 millimeters, way below the 150mm threshold.
Among the critical areas in the city that requires 24 hours monitoring is the City Camp lagoon that causes flooding when garbage accumulates.
“We give constant reminders to barangay officials in high elevation areas to remind residents not to bring out garbage during heavy rains nor throw garbage in canals to avoid clogging the lagoon and bringing houses underwater due to the low-lying location of the area,” Santos said.
Santos added that as early as Sept. 1, the CDRRMC has communicated with the village officials the expected heavy rains ahead of Enteng’s landfall.
A blue alert requires local officials to be on standby and implement a 24-hour monitoring. (PNA)
