The Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) is now on heightened alert due to a low pressure area (LPA) affecting the region, intensified by the southwest monsoon or habagat.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Cordillera has recommended preemptive evacuation, especially in areas prone to landslides.

“Inilabas na natin ang directive ng preemptive evacuation kahapon during our pre-disaster risk assessment scenario building at ngayon makikipag-coordinate tayo sa mga probinsya kung mayroon nang mga naitalang preemptively evacuated families,” Frankie Cortez, Chief of Operations Section of OCD-CAR, said.

Cortez said they are monitoring different provinces closely to keep track of situations.

“Since kahapon hanggang ngayon, wala tayong naitalang mga bagong landslides. ‘Yung mga dati pa rin na earlier reported dito sa Probinsya ng Ifugao at Probinsya ng Benguet pero on-going at matatapos na ang mga clearing operations na isinasagawa ng DPWH-CAR kasama ng kanilang mga District Engineering Office at siyempre ‘yung mga LGUs concerned,” he added.

Meanwhile, PAGASA has also warned of possible landslides as continuous heavy rains are expected in the coming days. Their forecast shows 50 to 100 mm of rainfall today and more in the next few days.

“Kasi nga alam ninyo naman dito sa mountainous area, maraming occurrence ng landslide lalo na kapag nag-intensify ang rain natin,” Engr. Larry Esperanza, Chief Meteorologist of PAGASA Baguio Station, said.