By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD) is on “heightened alert” due to moderate and heavy rains caused by the southwest monsoon or “habagat” and Tropical Storm “Dodong.”

Irene Bel Ploteña, PDMPD officer, said they expect rainy weather conditions to last for another week despite “Dodong” having already exited the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Saturday, July 15.

The state weather bureau, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), said another low pressure area (LPA) has been spotted 1,070 kilometers northeast of Mindanao and will likely enter PAR.

Ploteña said the LPA is now expected to directly affect Negros, and it could still enhance habagat.

The LPA is forecast to enter the eastern portion of Luzon, Pagasa said.

Negros Occidental is not under “blue alert” status, but all Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices in the province have been advised to be on the lookout for flashfloods and landslides.

Response units have also been prepositioned in every district, with each getting two ambulances./DGB, WDJ