By HENRY EMPEÑO | August 8, 2026

IBA, Zambales — More than five hundred residents were displaced across Zambales due to floodings caused by heavy rains from two consecutive typhoons that crossed the Luzon Island and enhanced the southwest monsoon or habagat since last week.

According to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) here, 156 families composed of 534 individuals, had thus far been affected since August 5, Wednesday, as Typhoon “Maymay” (international name Kujira) made landfall in Northern and Central Luzon.

As of late Saturday afternoon, August 8, a total of 77 families comprising 303 individuals are still in evacuation centers, said PDRRMO head Rolex Estella.

The capital town of Iba recorded the greatest number of evacuees at 61 families and 251 individuals, as floodwaters rose in the coastal barangays of Palanginan and Lipay-Dingin, as well as the floodplain in Barangay Dirita on Wednesday.

As of Saturday, 50 families, or 224 persons, from Brgy. Palanginan are still evacuated at the barangay hall, the PDRRMO said.

Elsewhere, 39 families composed of 120 individuals, fled their homes to safety in Sta. Cruz town since August 5. In Candelaria, 38 families, or 105 individuals, also evacuated.

Meanwhile, Masinloc recorded 3 families (9 persons) as evacuees; Palauig had 2 families (6 persons); San Felipe, one family (6 persons); San Antonio, 2 (5 persons); Castillejos, 9 (28 persons); and Subic, 1 (4 persons).

From ‘Luis’ to ‘Maymay’

Some Zambales residents began evacuating low-lying areas in the northern towns of Sta. Cruz, Candelaria, and Palauig as early as Tuesday, August 4, as the former Tropical Depression “Luis” heightened habagat rains over Western Luzon.

At Sitio Tagor in Barangay Malabon, Candelaria, floodwaters rose over waist-deep on August 5, forcing residents to move to higher areas, along with their livestock.

The 39 families in Sta. Cruz, as well as 38 families in Candelaria, who evacuated on August 5, however, had since returned home on August 7, the PDRRMO reported.

In San Marcelino, town, meanwhile, the LGU reported flooding at Barangay Sta. Fe, with heavy run-off from the river overflowing the Sta. Fe bridge and inundating the Sta. Fe National High School.

Barangay officials and residents led by Sta. Fe Chairman Rico Diego Arquero conducted sandbagging along breached riverbanks and removed tree trunks and other debris that were washed away into the bridge.

The PDRRMO, which collated reports from municipal offices, noted that there has not been any report of serious injuries or casualties due to extreme weather.

Heaviest Rainfall

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Iba town received the highest amount of rainfall accumulated in a span of 24 hours, with 158.6 millimeters of rain recorded from August 6 to 7.

Rainfall of 100 to 200 millimeters within 24 hours is classified as heavy to intense.

PAGASA’s monitoring stations also recorded 158 millimeters of rainfall in Baguio City in the same period, followed by 154.4 millimeters in La Trinidad, Benguet; 112.4 millimeters in Olongapo City; and 111.4 millimeters in Dagupan City.

PAGASA has placed Zambales under Red heavy rainfall warning at 5:00 pm on August 8, along with Bataan, Metro Manila, and portions of Batangas, Cavite, Pampanga, and Bulacan.

Weather experts expect more heavy rains over parts of the country, as Typhoon Dolphin enhances the southwest monsoon while tracking westward across the East China Sea toward the southeastern coast of China late Sunday. ▲