The state weather bureau, PAGASA, highlighted the significant role of the Sierra Madre mountain range in mitigating the damage from Severe Tropical Storm Pepito, which impacted parts of Luzon over the weekend. According to a report on 24 Oras, PAGASA noted that while heavy rains lashed Catanduanes and parts of Quezon Province, the mountains minimized the storm’s impact.
PAGASA officer-in-charge Juanito Galang explained that the storm’s intensity decreased as it reached land. “The Sierra Madre helped, and another factor in the storm’s weakening was the gradual reduction of moisture as it moved over land compared to when it was over the sea,” Galang said.
Stretching over 540 kilometers from Cagayan to Quezon Province, the Sierra Madre is the Philippines’ longest mountain range and home to the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, the country’s largest protected area.
Despite the protective barrier, the storm caused significant damage. Cagayan Valley, already affected by prior storms, suffered severe flooding. A tragic landslide in Ambaguio, Nueva Vizcaya, claimed seven lives, including an 8-year-old child. Isabela faced additional flooding due to heavy rainfall and the release of water from the Magat Dam.
Central Luzon also felt Pepito’s impact. A resort in Dipaculao, Aurora, was damaged by strong waves, while fierce winds in Baler toppled trees and damaged roofs.
The Office of the Civil Defense reported that the Philippine Air Force dispatched Black Hawk helicopters for damage assessment and relief efforts. PAGASA noted that having four simultaneous tropical cyclones in the western Pacific Ocean is rare but not unprecedented, attributing the current activity to La Niña-like conditions.
