Photo Caption; Early morning 6 am to set the Full Metro Manila from Bridge City Bridge until I Navotas until Roxas Blvd Manila. (AL Padilla)

While exiting the PAR, Henry may still enhance the habagat.

Some areas in Metro Manila and nearby provinces became virtual waterworlds as heavy rains brought about by the southwest monsoon and typhoon “Henry” pummeled the country yesterday.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the monsoon rains triggered floods or landslides in Metro Manila, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Mindoro provinces, Palawan and Western Visayas.

Waist-deep waters were recorded in several towns in Bulacan and Bataan provinces.

Partial report from the authorities showed the affected villages were from the towns of Dinalupihan, Hermosa, Orani, Abucay, Pilar, Orion, Limay, Mariveles and Morong and the City of Balanga.

In Sitio Aquino, Barangay Panilao in Pilar, Bataan, members of the Philippine National Police conducted a search and rescue operation for some missing persons who were reported to have been among those who were taken by raging waters.

In Meycauayan City, areas hit by floods were barangays Tugatog, Caingin, Lawa, Saluysoy, Camalig, Poblacion, Malhacan and Bangkal that were submerged under eight inches to two-foot deep water.

In Bulakan town, the villages of Taliptip, Sta. Ana and Bambang were under one foot of water while Barangay Tumana in Sta. Maria town was under two feet of floodwater.

In Zambales, 64 families were evacuated in Castillejos and San Antonio.

Landslides hit the Kaybiang Tunnel Road in Cavite’s upland town of Maragondon around 4 a.m. Tuesday, rendering the tunnel impassable to motorists.

Another landslide struck a portion of the major road connecting the Cavite towns of Alfonso and Indang via the Luksuhin Road in Barangay Tambo Malaki in Indang.

Also, 12 villages in Naic, Cavite were declared under the state of calamity, namely, barangays Labac, Mabulo, Bancaan, Bagong Karsada, Bucana Malaki, Sapa, Bucana Sasahan, Munting Mapino, Timalan Balsahan, Timalan Concepcion, Balsahan and Latoria.

In Cagayan and Palawan, 351 seagoing passengers, five vessels and three motorboats were stranded due to inclement weather, the National Disaster Risk Response and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.

There were 83 passengers who were unable to leave Coron Pier; 35 in Rio Tuba Port; 213 in El Nido Pier, all in Palawan; and 20 in Toran Wharf, Cagayan, NDRRMC executive director Ricardo Jalad said.

Two of the stranded ships were at Coron Pier, another two in Rio Tuba and one in El Nido, all in Palawan. Two stranded bancas were also reported in Rio Tuba and one in Toran Wharf, Cagayan.

Strong winds in Purok Balinghoy, Barangay Busay, Bago City, Negros Occidental heavily damaged four houses, affecting four families or equivalent to 15 persons.

Seven barangays were also reported flooded in Sta. Cruz and Sablayan towns, Occidental Mindoro.

In Metro Manila, floodwaters submerged R. Papa and Aurora Boulevard-Araneta Avenue in Quezon City. Residents reportedly used broken refrigerators to get across the floods.

According to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, flooding also occurred in Laon-laan between Lacson and A. Mendoza; España between Lacson and Maceda; España between Lacson and M. dela Fuente; Barangay Tatalon Roxas District, northbound and southbound; E. Rodriguez de los Santos Medical City northbound and southbound; Doña Carmen westbound; and Cubao Tunnel Aurora northbound.

The inclement weather prompted Malacañang to cancel work and classes in Metro Manila and other areas in Luzon.

“The suspension of work for private companies, offices and schools is left to the discretion of their respective heads,” the Palace said in its Memorandum Circular 47.

In Mandaluyong City, several students and people going to work used pedicabs to pass through the flooded Maysilo Circle in Mandaluyong City.

In Marikina City, the first alarm was sounded off for the Marikina River as it swelled to 15 meters.

This, as two cars were submerged and had to be pulled off from the river. The owners left their cars and were not able to take them out before the waters rose.

The Philippine National Railways canceled several train trips due to high-water level along the line.

In its weather bulletin, PAGASA said “Henry” is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Tuesday evening or Wednesday evening as it heads for Taiwan and mainland China.

The weather bureau said the storm was last spotted 635 km northeast of Basco, Batanes moving 30 kph west northwest with maximum winds of 17 kph and gusts of 210 kph.

While exiting the PAR, “Henry” may still enhance the southwest monsoon that would dump more rains in Central Luzon, Southern Luzon and west of Visayas.

Meanwhile, a new weather disturbance spotted southeast of PAR may turn into a low pressure area while an existing LPA over the West Philippine Sea is influencing rainfall along Central and Southern Luzon and the western side of Visayas. With Angie M. Rosales and PNA