Numerous flooding incidents have been recorded in Palawan by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) Monday morning due to non-stop moderate-to-heavy rains caused by the low pressure area (LPA) since weekend.
In Sofronio Española in southern Palawan, PDRRMO spokesperson Roselee Buenconsejo said five low-lying barangays are now flooded, causing several families to evacuate to shelters through the help of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO).
These are Barangays Abo-Abo, Isumbo, Panitian, Labog and Punang, where a still undetermined number of families have been evacuated to safer areas.
“The flooding was caused by the high tide and the heavy rains that have not stop falling since Sunday,” she said.
Buenconsejo said that they are presently monitoring the situation in Sofronio Española in close coordination with troops from the Marine Battalion Landing Team 12 and the MDRRMO of the municipality.
Flooding have been likewise recorded by the PDRRMO in Barangays Panitian, Pinaglabanan, and Alfonso Tres in the town of Quezon, also in the southern part of the province.
Some roads in these barangays are now impassable due to heavy rains that had caused water to overflow from rivers.
In northern Palawan in the town of Roxas, an important foot bridge that connects to a major road system in Barangay Caramay was washed out by strongly gushing river waters, preventing families from crossing.
The MDRRMO in El Nido is also monitoring flood waters that have reportedly started creeping in to the center of the town.
In Coron, on the other hand, Buenconsejo said the MDRRMO recommended the suspension of classes in public and private elementary and high schools due to heavy rains.
Sonny Pajarilla of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said there is possibility that heavy rains will continue to fall over Palawan until Thursday due to Typhoon Lionrock that is now moving to Taiwan from the southern part of Japan.
“This typhoon will sustain the southwest monsoon, and it might take until Thursday before heavy rains stopped from falling in Palawan,” Pajarilla said. (Archie T. Barone/PNA)
