TYPHOON-ENHANCED MONSOON SLAMS LUZON AND VISAYAS; OVER 382,000 DISPLACED

Courtesy: Ventusky

Torrential rains and destructive floods continue to hammer wide areas of Luzon and Western Visayas as an intensified Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) holds the country under heavy weather alerts.

The state weather bureau, PAGASA, confirmed on Monday, August 10, 2026, that while no active tropical cyclone is inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), the monsoon is being significantly powered up by the combined pull of multiple offshore weather disturbances. These external systems include Super Typhoon Dolphin and the newly formed Tropical Storm Peilou, located 2,475 kilometers east of Extreme Northern Luzon.

According to the latest situation report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the severe weather has affected over 382,000 people across 8 regions. At least six fatalities have been recorded—primarily from landslides in Benguet and rockslides in Rizal—while structural damages to infrastructure have spiked past ₱105 million.

Rainfall Red Alerts and Extreme Landslide Threats

In its specialized PAGASA Weather Update, forecasters warned that the heaviest downpours will persist through early week before gradually tapering off.

• Above 200 mm of Rain: Benguet remains under critical threat, facing a severe risk of life-threatening landslides.
• 100 to 200 mm of Rain: Heavy to intense rain continues to pummel Ilocos Sur, La Union, Zambales, Bataan, Rizal, Cavite, Occidental Mindoro, and Metro Manila.
• 50 to 100 mm of Rain: Moderate to heavy precipitation keeps provinces like Tarlac, Pampanga, and Bulacan under strict flood monitoring.

Urban Flooding and Mass Evacuations

In the National Capital Region (NCR), floodwaters rose rapidly overnight. Quezon City disaster officials reported that more than 5,200 residents were forced to flee to temporary shelter units. In low-lying communities such as Barangay Bagong Silangan, flash floods quickly breached chest-deep and head-high levels, trapping early morning commuters and stalling vehicles on major streets.

Water levels have also reached critical thresholds. Spillways in Central Luzon are currently being monitored, while the La Mesa Dam has neared its spillway limit, threatening severe riverine flooding along the Tullahan River channel.

Nationwide Disruptions and Suspensions

The worsening conditions prompted Malacañang to implement Memorandum Circular No. 123, ordering a full suspension of public school classes and government work across Metro Manila and 15 highly affected provinces. The Philippine Senate transitioned into a remote work-from-home schedule to ensure structural safety.

Concurrently, maritime safety has plummeted due to turbulent sea conditions. Data from the Philippine Coast Guard shows that over 540 passengers and truck drivers are stranded across 28 ports due to halted operations in Western Visayas and Central Visayas. Localized hazards have also popped up further south, including a suspected tornado in Iloilo City that ripped apart dozens of residential homes.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed all frontline relief agencies to remain on heightened alert status. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has started mobilizing relief networks to deliver emergency food parcels to the displaced families across the activated evacuation lines.