LIVE UPDATES: Habagat rains affect parts of PH on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026

The La Mesa Dam was placed under Alert Level 3 following the incessant rains on Monday, the Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported.

As of 5 a.m. on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, the water level status of rivers and dams are as follows:

La Mesa Dam

•     79.71 m
•     Alert Level 3

Marikina River

•     14.98 m
•     No Alert Level

Quirino (Tullahan River)

•     38.44 m
•     No Alert Level

San Juan River

•     11.97 m
•     No Alert Level

The excess water from La Mesa Dam is expected to affect low-lying areas along the Tullahan River.

These areas are:

•     Fairview
•     Forest Hills Subdivision
•     Quirino Highway
•     San Bartolome

— BAP, GMA News

A red rainfall warning has been raised over Batangas, Zambales, Bataan, an orange warning over Cavite and eight other areas, and a yellow warning over Metro Manila and six other areas due to the Southwest Monsoon (habagat) on Tuesday morning, August 18, 2026.

State weather bureau PAGASA issued a Heavy Rainfall Warning at 5 a.m. on Tuesday for various areas and asked the public and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices concerned to continuously monitor the weather condition.

Red Rainfall Warning (Serious flooding in flood-prone areas)

•     Batangas (Balayan, Tuy, Lian, Calatagan, Calaca, Lemery, Laurel, Agoncillo, Talisay, Tanauan, Malvar, Balete, Mataasnakahoy, Batangas City, San Jose, Lipa, Cuenca, San Pascual, San Luis, Bauan, Santa Teresita, Alitagtag, Taal, San Nicolas, Nasugbu, Taysan, Ibaan, Rosario, Padre Garcia, Santo Tomas)
•     Zambales (Botolan, Iba, Cabangan, San Narciso, San Felipe, San Antonio, Subic, Olongapo, Castillejos, San Marcelino)
•     Bataan (Morong, Hermosa, Dinalupihan, Bagac)

Orange Rainfall Warning (Flooding is still threatening)

•     Cavite
•     Bataan (Abucay, Balanga, Limay, Mariveles, Orani, Orion, Pilar, Samal)
•     Pampanga (Bacolor, Mexico, Santa Ana, Arayat, Magalang, San Fernando, Angeles, Mabalacat, Floridablanca, Lubao, Santa Rita, Guagua, Porac, Santo Tomas, Minalin, Macabebe, Masantol, Sasmuan)
•     Tarlac (Bamban, Capas, San Jose, Mayantoc, Tarlac City, Concepcion), Zambales(Palauig, Masinloc, Candelaria, Santa Cruz)
•     Laguna (Calamba, Cabuyao, Santa Rosa, Binan, San Pedro, Alaminos, Calauan, Bay, Los Banos, San Pablo)
•     Bulacan (Paombong, Hagonoy)
•     Metro Manila (Muntinlupa, Las Pinas)
•     Batangas (Lobo, San Juan)
•     Quezon (Tiaong, San Antonio)

Yellow Rainfall Warning (Possible flooding in flood-prone areas)

•     Metro Manila (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Quezon City, Paranaque, Taguig, Makati, Mandaluyong, Pasig, San Juan, Pasay, Pateros, Marikina, Manila)
•     Rizal
•     Laguna (Lumban, Kalayaan, Liliw, Luisiana, Magdalena, Majayjay, Nagcarlan, Pagsanjan, Pila, Rizal, Santa Cruz, Victoria, Cavinti, Famy, Mabitac, Paete, Pakil, Pangil, Santa Maria, Siniloan)
•     Quezon (Real, Sampaloc, Lucban, Tayabas, Sariaya, Candelaria, Dolores, Lucena)
•     Bulacan (San Jose del Monte, Santa Maria, Bustos, Pandi, Baliuag, Plaridel, Pulilan, Calumpit, Malolos, Bulakan, Guiguinto, Bocaue, Balagtas, Obando, Meycauayan, Marilao)
•     Pampanga (Apalit, Candaba, San Luis, San Simon)
•     Tarlac (Anao, Gerona, La Paz, Paniqui, Pura, Ramos, San Manuel, Victoria, Camiling, Moncada, San Clemente, Santa Ignacia).

Light to moderate with occasional heavy rains that will persist for three hours will be affecting the following areas:

•     Nueva Ecija
•     Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta, Mauban, Pagbilao, Agdangan, Alabat, Atimonan, Buenavista, Burdeos, Calauag, Catanauan, General Luna, Guinayangan, Gumaca, Jomalig, Lopez, Macalelon, Mulanay, Padre Burgos, Panukulan, Patnanungan, Perez, Pitogo, Plaridel, Polillo, Quezon, San Andres, San Francisco, San Narciso, Tagkawayan, Unisan)
•     Bulacan (Angat, Dona Remedios Trinidad, Norzagaray, San Ildefonso, San Miguel, San Rafael).

— BAP, GMA News

Heavy rainfall brought about by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) is expected over eight areas on Tuesday, PAGASA reported.

Rainfall measuring from 100 mm to 200 mm is expected over the following areas:

•     Benguet
•     La Union
•     Pangasinan
•     Zambales
•     Bataan
•     Cavite
•     Batangas
•     Occidental Mindoro

Areas that will experience heavy rainfall from 50mm to 100 mm are:

•     Metro Manila
•     Ilocos Sur
•     Abra
•     Tarlac
•     Pampanga
•     Bulacan
•     Nueva Ecija
•     Laguna
•     Rizal
•     Oriental Mindoro
•     Antique

"Forecast rainfall may be higher in mountainous and elevated areas. Moreover, impacts in some areas may be worsened by significant antecedent rainfall," said PAGASA.

"The public disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned are advised to take all necessary measure to protect life and property. PAGASA Regional Services Divisions may issue Heavy Rainfall Warnings/Thunderstorms Advisories, and other severe weather information specific to their areas of responsibility as appropriate," the agency added. — BAP/KG, GMA News

The Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) will continue to bring monsoon rains over parts of Luzon and the Visayas on Tuesday, PAGASA reported.

The state weather bureau is also monitoring two Low Pressure Areas (LPAs) and as of 2 a.m., LPA 08f is being monitored inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and now has a high chance of developing into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours.

The other LPA identified as LPA 08g, which is outside the PAR, has a medium chance of developing into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours.

Forecast weather conditions

Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, and Occidental Mindoro will have monsoon rains due to the Southwest Monsoon as flash floods or landslides may occur due to heavy to intense rains.

The above-mentioned areas may expect 100 mm to 200 mm of heavy rainfall today, PAGASA said.

Metro Manila, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Laguna, Rizal, Oriental Mindoro, and Antique will have occasional rains due to the Southwest Monsoon while flash floods or landslides that may occur due to moderate to heavy rains.

These areas mentioned above may have heavy rains measuring from 50mm to 100 mm today.

Negros Island Region, the rest of Luzon, and the rest of Western Visayas will have cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms due to the Southwest Monsoon while flash floods or landslides may occur due to moderate to at times heavy rains.

The rest of the Visayas will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the Southwest Monsoon with flash floods or landslides that may possibly occur during severe thunderstorms.

Mindanao will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to localized thunderstorms with flash floods or landslides occurring during severe thunderstorms.

Forecast wind and coastal water conditions

The northern and western sections of Luzon will experience moderate to strong winds moving southwestward while coastal waters will be moderate to rough.

The eastern section of Mindanao will experience moderate to strong winds moving in the south to southwest direction, and moderate to rough coastal waters.

The rest of the country will have light to moderate winds moving in the south to southwest direction while coastal waters will be slight to moderate.

Sunrise will be at 5:43 a.m., sunset at 6:17 p.m. — BAP/KG, GMA News

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and other agencies will provide free rides on Tuesday, August 18, 2026 from 6 a.m. up to 8 p.m.

The DOTr also said the time may be extended if needed.

The agency said this program is in accordance with the order of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to ensure that passengers have transportation, especially since many areas in Metro Manila are experiencing flooding due to heavy rains.

“Ide-deploy ang 43 vehicle assets ng pamahalaan para alalayan ang ating mga komyuter na na-stranded. Kasama natin ang iba’t ibang government agencies sa pagbibigay ng libreng sakay sa mga pasahero na apektado ng matinding pag-ulan. Prayoridad nating makapasok at makauwi sila ng ligtas,” Transportation Secretary Banoy Lopez said.

(The government will deploy 43 vehicle assets to assist our stranded commuters. We are joining various government agencies in providing free rides to passengers affected by the heavy rains. Our priority is to get them home safely.)

The free ride routes (and vice versa) include the following:

•     Quiapo to Fairview
•     Lawton to PITX
•     Divisoria to Cubao (via Nagtahan)
•     Baclaran to Monumento (via Taft)
•     Lawton to Muntinlupa (Starmall)
•     Heritage to Market Market
•     Monumento to PITx (Busway route)
•     Kalentong to Pasig
•     Buendia to Makati Avenue
•     Quiapo to Commonwealth
•     Marikina to Cubao
•     Sta. Mesa to Q. Avenue (via Araneta)
•     Baclaran to Sucat

The other government agencies that will participate in the program are: the Office of the President, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Ports Authority, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Department of Energy, Department of Labor and Employment, and the Philippine Army. — BAP, GMA News

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Monday questioned the effectiveness of the government’s flood control efforts, noting that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) spent P1.939 trillion on its flood control management program from 2011 to 2025, yet flooding continues to plague parts of the country.

Lacson raised the issue as heavy monsoon rains triggered widespread flooding and disrupted activities in several areas, including Metro Manila, in recent days.

“FLOOD CONTROL VS UNCONTROLLED FLOOD: PhP1.939 trillion funded the DPWH flood control management program under three presidents from 2011-2025 and the result is uncontrolled flood,” Lacson said in a post on X.

The senator cited historical data on DPWH flood management spending under the Aquino, Duterte and Marcos administrations from 2011 to 2025, with annual funding for flood management breaching the P100-billion mark in 2018:

2011: P11.323 billion
2012: P10.816 billion
2013: P15.817 billion
2014: P30.001 billion
2015: P47.849 billion
2016: P67.740 billion
2017: P81.223 billion
2018: P139.001 billion
2019: P126.062 billion
2020: P116.047 billion
2021: P140.462 billion
2022: P145.622 billion
2023: P287.018 billion
2024: P346.771 billion
2025: P372.814 billion

Lacson observed that while the DPWH spent more than P1 trillion on flood management for the past 15 years - or some P350 million a day -the problem still persists.

He had earlier exposed anomalous flood control projects in areas including Bulacan and Mindoro Oriental through privilege speeches and Blue Ribbon Committee hearings.

The senator had also uncovered several allegedly anomalous slope protection projects and illegal reclamation activities in Taguig City, and have turned over the related evidence to the Office of the Ombudsman. —LDF, GMA News