Rains to continue over Metro Manila; FDA issues warning on medicines

MANILA, Philippines — The southwest monsoon enhanced by several low-pressure areas (LPA) will continue to bring rains over Metro Manila and parts of the country today, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

The LPA inside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) was monitored 615 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes as of 3 p.m. Tuesday.

The LPA has a low chance of developing into a tropical cyclone in the next 24 hours.

There are two other LPAs outside PAR that are influencing the southwest monsoon that is affecting parts of the country.

The monsoon is affecting Central and Southern Luzon and the Visayas.

The weather system will bring scattered rains over Metro Manila, Western Visayas, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro and Palawan.

Meanwhile, isolated light rains are forecast over the rest of the Visayas, Bicol region, the rest of Mimaropa and the rest of Calabarzon.

The rest of the country may see isolated rains due to localized thunderstorms.

PAGASA warned of possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to, at times, heavy rains.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned the public not to purchase and use health products, including medicines, that were submerged in floods caused by Typhoon Carina and the enhanced monsoon rains two weeks ago.

In its latest advisory, the FDA said “numerous factories, warehouses and establishments involved in the manufacturing, processing, packing or storage of health products – including drugstores and retail outlets – have been submerged in floodwaters, compromising the quality, safety, efficacy and purity of the products.”

“In the interest of public health, safety and welfare, the FDA has warned the public and establishments about health products that were submerged or otherwise affected by floods and are now being offered for sale or resale,” the agency noted.

Health products refer to food, drugs, cosmetics, devices, biologicals, vaccines, in-vitro diagnostic reagents or household/urban hazardous substances or a combination of, or a derivative thereof.

The FDA likewise said that instead of selling such products,