A smile amid floodwaters. A girl holding on a plastic container to keep her afloat smiles sweetly while making a  peace sign while her picture is being taken. Photo was taken at Barangay Talayan in Quezon City,Thursday morning after the downpour of heavy rains brought by Typhoon Goring enhanced by southwest monsoon or habagat. (Photo credit: PNA)

QUEZON CITY, (PIA) --Two (2) roads in Metro Manila were rendered impassable while seven (7) have limited access due to flooding brought by Southwest Monsoon rains enhanced by Typhoon ‘Goring’.

Based on the 12:00 noon, August 31, 2023 report of the Department of Public Works and Highways - Bureau of Maintenance, the following roads are not passable to all types of vehicles due to flooding:

Quezon City (Not Passable)

1) G. Araneta Avenue corner Maria Clara Street

2) Domingo Avenue corner Calamba Street

The following five (5) roads in the City of Manila and two (2) other roads in Quezon City are also flooded and only passable to heavy vehicles:

Manila (Passable to Heavy Vehicles Only)

1) Blumentritt Street, Sampaloc

2) Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard, Pureza – Hippodromo and V. Mapa to SM Sta. Mesa

3) Tayuman Street corner Jose Abad Santos Avenue

4) J.P. Rizal Avenue Corner Claro M. Recto Avenue

5) Mel Lopez Boulevard corner C-2 and Moriones Street

Quezon City (Passable to Heavy Vehicles Only)

1) G. Araneta Avenue near E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue

2) Eliptical Road near Quezon Avenue

In Barangay Talayan, Quezon City floods reached almost five feet, residents have to navigate using boats to get out of the place while portions of Araneta Avenue in Barangay Tatalon also in Quezon City are submerged in waist-deep floods after a heavy downpour on Thursday.

Local Government Units (LGUs) in Metro Manila also suspended classes in their area of responsibility due to the heavy rains brought by Super Typhoon Goring and enhanced southwest monsoon or habagat.

Several LGUs and national agencies also suspended work by 12 noon.

Latest bulettin from PAGASA says the Southwest Monsoon currently enhanced by Super Typhoon SAOLA (GORING) (now outside the PAR) at this time is also being slightly enhanced by HANNA and Tropical Storm KIROGI (currently outside the PAR). The enhanced monsoon will bring occasional to monsoon rains over the western portions of Luzon in the next three days. 

Forecast rainfall are generally higher in elevated or mountainous areas. Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are expected especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps and in localities that experienced considerable amounts of rainfall for the past several days, the bulettin added.

The enhanced Southwest Monsoon will continue to bring gusty conditions over the following areas not under any Wind Signal, especially in coastal and upland/mountainous areas exposed to winds:
·   Today and tomorrow: Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Zambales, Bataan, Aurora, Bulacan, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and the northern portion of Eastern Visayas.
·   Saturday: Zambales, Bataan, Bulacan, Aurora, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and the northern portion of Eastern Visayas.(PIA-NCR)