Brace for more rains, floods

Intense rainfall slammed Metro Manila and other parts of the country last Friday and Saturday, triggering flooding on major thoroughfares and low-lying areas and bringing traffic to a standstill for several hours that stranded thousands of commuters. Weather forecasters warned that the monsoon rains may continue into midweek that may trigger more flooding and landslides over parts of Luzon and the Visayas. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said a low-pressure area (LPA) north of Batanes and a tropical cyclone off the Pacific Ocean with international name “Conson” are enhancing the southwest monsoon or “habagat” that has been dumping rains over areas facing the West Philippine Sea. The LPA, which is already a tropical depression according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, has already left the country’s area of responsibility before Saturday noon, while storm “Conson” continues to move to the north or away from the Philippines, but [...]