A huge flood engulfs houses at the City Camp Lagoon in Baguio City following continuous rains dumped by tropical depression 'Pepeng.' (Photo by RIZALDY COMANDA)

If the rains continue to pour in Laguna de Bay, 192 more barangays will be submerged in water, leaving more than a million residents affected, the Laguna Lake Development Authority warned on Friday.

LLDA General Manager Edgardo Manda said his agency already sent letters to mayors of affected cities and provinces, advising them to have their constituents evacuated as the water level of Laguna de Bay is expected to rise following the rains brought by typhoon “Pepeng,” which has been battering the Northern Luzon.

“If these rains continue and the lake hit the 14 meter-high water level, 192 more barangays will be under water,” he warned in a press conference in Malacañang’s National Executive Building (NEB).

He said it will take 144 days before the water level in Laguna de Bay, which is now at 11.5 meters high, recedes.

The LLDA said they have been constantly reminding the residents near the bay to find halfway houses since the flood in their areas continues to rise because of the rains.

He noted that the waning signs have been installed since August 15.

“We have been advising them to move out and we also asked the local executives to make contingency plans since these waters will remain until three months or December,” Manda said. (Charissa M. Luci)