RAINS will persist throughout August but will not be as intense as it was on Aug. 17, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Tuesday.
In a Palace press briefing, Roy Badilla, deputy administrator for operations and services at the state-run weather bureau, said they are monitoring two low pressure areas (LPAs) — one 400 kilometers west of the country and another in extreme northern Luzon — which are enhancing the southwest monsoon, or habagat.
“Based on the data that we have, we are expecting that the whole of August, the rain will continue,” Badilla said, noting that it will not be as intense compared to the rain experienced on Aug. 17, which caused floods in major roads across Metro Manila. In recent days, Pagasa recorded 202 millimeters of rainfall in just six hours at its Science Garden station in Quezon City, contributing to a 24-hour total of 239 millimeters.
While Pagasa does not expect every upcoming rain event to match recent peak volumes, intermittent downpours remain likely.
Pagasa advised the public, local government units, and disaster response teams to remain vigilant and maintain clearance of local waterways.
As the rainfall continues, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said she verified that there is a sufficient inventory of doxycycline — a medication for leptospirosis — in public health centers and hospitals.
“Yesterday, we were given information that the medicines are enough for this,” Castro said. She advised individuals who have been exposed to floodwaters to immediately visit local health centers or contact the Department of Health to access preventive treatment.
The Palace urged residents in flood-affected communities not to delay medical consultation, emphasizing that early administration of post-exposure prophylaxis significantly reduces the risk of severe complications.
