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Epic flood is seen from Brgy. Bagong Silangan, Quezon City on August 17, 2026 as water levels from the Marikina River continue to rise because of torrential rains attributed to the effects of the southwest monsoon or ‘habagat.’ (Photo by Edd Castro)
The streets of Metro Manila stood still on Monday as thousands of students, workers, and motorists endured heavy “habagat” rains that dumped 201.7 millimeters of rainfall in just five hours from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., extending a grueling stretch of weather disruptions across the capital and other parts of Luzon.
The total rainfall volume on Monday was almost half of the 455 mm unleashed by Typhoon Ondoy, which inundated Metro Manila and nearby provinces in September 2009.
Over half of the total rainfall was logged in a two-hour window from 12 noon to 2 p.m.—equivalent to seven days’ worth of August rain—triggering traffic jams along major thoroughfares, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
State weather bureau PAGASA said rains will persist in Luzon and parts of the Visayas for the next five days due to the southwest monsoon.
“Based on our data and analysis, the effects of the southwest monsoon will continue to linger in Luzon and the western section of the Visayas for the next five days,” weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said.
A low-pressure area east of northern Luzon has also entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility and could be named “Neneng,” if it develops into a tropical depression while inside the country.
In its 5 p.m. weather advisory on August 17, PAGASA said heavy to intense rain (100-200 millimeters) is expected until today (Tuesday) over Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales and Bataan and Occidental Mindoro.
Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm), on the other hand, will persist in Ilocos Sur, Abra, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Oriental Mindoro, and Antique.
Heavy rains turn streets along España Boulevard in Manila into swamps, leaving roads impassable amid severe flooding on August 17, 2026. (Photo by Norman Cruz)
Malacañang ordered work-from-home arrangements in government offices and alternative learning modes in public and private schools in Metro Manila and 14 provinces today amid continued heavy rains from the southwest monsoon.
Memorandum Circular No. 128, signed by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, covers Metro Manila, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, Laguna, and Occidental Mindoro.
Agencies providing basic and health services, disaster preparedness and response, and other critical services are exempted from the WFH order.
The Palace also left it to local chief executives to determine whether classes should be suspended in areas not covered by the memorandum, depending on local weather and disaster conditions.
The private sector, meanwhile, may decide whether to suspend work or adopt alternative work arrangements based on conditions in their respective areas.
According to PAGASA, heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm) is forecast over Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan and Occidental Mindoro from Tuesday noon to Wednesday noon.
Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm) will prevail over Ilocos Sur, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Oriental Mindoro, and Antique.
From Wednesday noon to Thursday noon, heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm) will prevail over Zambales, Bataan and Occidental Mindoro.
Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm) is forecast over Ilocos Sur, La Union, Benguet, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna and Batangas for the same period.
The Quezon City local government, for its part, warned residents as water levels at major rivers and dams in the city reached elevated alert levels on Monday afternoon, while deep flooding was also reported on roads across several barangays.
The Marikina City government raised the second alarm on Monday afternoon, prompting preemptive evacuations as the water level from the Marikina River reached 16.8 meters and continues to rise amid ongoing rainfall.
At least two districts in the city opened their public schools to serve as temporary shelters for residents fleeing inundated communities.
Personnel from the Mandaluyong City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department together with volunteer rescue groups assist residents in crossing flooded streets using boats on August 17, 2026. (Courtesy: Mandaluyong City DRRMD)
As this developed, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) distributed more than 1 million family food packs and nearly P700 million worth of assistance to families affected by the combined effects of recent tropical cyclones and ‘habagat.’
The DSWD’s regional field offices have also provided P2.253 million worth of financial assistance to affected families and individuals.
“We continue to coordinate with LGUs and other partner agencies to ensure that we deliver not only relief assistance but also necessary social protection interventions to our fellow citizens affected by Typhoons Luis and Maymay,” Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group said.
DSWD data showed that some 6,949 families or 24,181 individuals remain displaced and are currently staying in evacuation centers. — Rio N. Araja, Charles Dantes, Joel E. Zurbano, Rex Espiritu & Maricel Cruz
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Credit belongs to: www.manilastandard.net
