Despite the receding floods in Barangay Anolid, Mangaldan, Pangasinan, many residents remain cautious. Most of their appliances and furniture are still placed atop tables, wary of more rainfall brought by two low-pressure areas (LPAs) and the strengthening southwest monsoon.

“[Baka] may bagyo pa kaya mahirap. Kami ang unang binabaha dito. Sa amin din huling humuhupa ang baha kaya dapat nakataas pa gamit namin,” Lerma de Guzman, a resident, said.

According to PAGASA, the recent downpours were caused by a low-pressure area.

“Asahan natin na lalakas pa ang habagat at palalakasin nitong binabantayan nating low pressure area,” Chief Meteorologist Engr. Jose Estrada Jr. from PAGASA-Dagupan said.

On the afternoon of August 6, the Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) raised its status to Blue Alert. They urged communities to prepare for possible impacts from the monitored weather systems.

While river levels have dropped slightly and are no longer at critical levels, residents near riverbanks are still being warned.

“Pinapayuhan natin ang ating mga kababayan. Saturated na ang ating kalupaan at mayroon tayong prior flooding. Ang ating mga LGU’s na nasa flood-prone or mountainous area ay inaabisuhan natin na mag-strictly monitor,” Avenix Arenas, Assistant PDRRM Officer, said.

The Office of Civil Defense Region 1 remains under Red Alert and assures the public of their preparedness.

“Continuous monitoring tayo and kung may mga pangangailangan, ready tayo na mag-deploy ng augmentation with supplies and forces with SSR,” Director Laurence Mina said.