FOLLOWING the continuous rains brought by the habagat or southwest monsoon, tourism activities in Benguet province were suspended.
Mt. Pulag National Park management disclosed due to the continuous rains for the past days, the park was closed for public safety.
“All park workers, guides, porters and organizers are hereby advised to close the park anytime when public safety is at stake,” the notice said.
On September 8, tourism-related activities in Itogon, Benguet remain temporarily suspended due to continuous rains while caving activities in Sagada, Mountain Province was also suspended.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration in Baguio reported the amount of rainfall for September 7 to 8 is 92.4mm which increased largely compared to September 6 to 7 with 36.4mm only.
Albert Mogol, Cordillera Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) chair and Office of the Civil Defense (OCD)–CAR director, advised the public and local DRRM to be on full alert on rain-induced landslides and flooding.
Francis Cortes, OCD information officer, reported among the roads reported Kennon Road and a portion of the Sabangan, Mountain Province remain closed to traffic as motorist are advised to use an alternate road at Nakagan-Abatan-Bauko-Mabaay provincial road.
CDRRMC reported Congressman Andres Acop Cosalan road at Amlimay-Bugias, Insalong-Bugias, Manasok-Bugias was closed due to soil collapse on September 8 and is expected to be open one lane September 9.
“Additional roads closed are the Governor Bado Dangwa National road at the section of Tinmang, Poblacion, Kibungan and at Sitio Mabuhay, Barangay Gambang, Bakun, Benguet which was closed to traffic at 7:30 a.m. September 9 but is expected to open on the same day after clearing operations. These closure are all due to soil collapse,” Cortes said.
CDRRMC also reported the continuous spilling operation by the National Power Corporation (NPC) at Binga and Ambuclao as a preventive measure although water level is still not within the critical level, while the region’s electric and communication lifeline remains at normal status.
“All member agencies of the CDRRMC is on monitor and in standby not only with their response assets but with their personnel and their trained or capacitated employees for possible augmentation for possible disaster response and as of now, we have not received any reported incidents needing mobilization of the said assets but still remains in standby specially those belonging to the response cluster,” Cortes added.
Benguet Province and Bauko in Mt. Province suspended classes from pre-school to high school, while classes from pre-school to elementary suspended in Baguio City, Tadian and Sagada in Mt. Province.