The Philippine state weather bureau reissued a General Flood Advisory on May 16, warning residents across eight regions of potential flooding caused by continuous rains.
The bureau cited the presence of the intertropical convergence zone and easterlies as the main drivers of the persistent rainfall affecting large parts of the country.
These weather systems are expected to trigger localized downpours, increasing the risk of flash floods, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas.
The regions placed under flood advisory include Region 1 (Ilocos Region), CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region), Region 8 (Eastern Visayas), Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), Region 10 (Northern Mindanao), Region 11 (Davao Region), Region 13 (CARAGA), and BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao).
Specific provinces affected are:
- Region 1: La Union, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte
- CAR: Mt. Province, Ifugao, Benguet
- Region 8: Leyte, Eastern Samar, Biliran, Southern Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar
- Region 9: Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur
- Region 10: Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon
- Region 11: Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental
- Region 13: Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Dinagat Islands
- BARMM: Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur
Authorities are urging residents, especially those in vulnerable areas, to remain vigilant and follow safety protocols as heavy rainfall may lead to landslides and rising water levels in rivers and streams.
Local disaster management units have been placed on high alert to respond to any emergencies that may arise during this period of increased rainfall.