MANILA, Philippines - The low-pressure area west of the Philippines intensified into a tropical depression yesterday, leaving three people dead and another missing.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the weather disturbance, which was given the local name “Dodong,” is expected to bring more rains over some parts of Luzon this weekend.
Dodong was spotted 150 kilometers west of Dagupan City, Pangasinan as of 4 p.m. yesterday.
Dodong had maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and was forecast to move north-northwest at 19 kph.
As of 5 p.m., storm warning signal no. 1 was hoisted over Bataan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales and Pangasinan.
Signal no. 1 was also raised over Cavite and Metro Manila yesterday morning but was later lifted in the afternoon as the weather disturbance continued to move away from the country.
Classes in all levels in some areas, including Metro Manila, were suspended yesterday by the Department of Education (DepEd) due to incessant rains.
DepEd stressed the selective suspension of classes was based on the decision and recommendation of local government units or the school principal based on the conditions in the areas concerned.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said a 56-year-old woman drowned while a 10-year-old boy was reported missing due to floods triggered by rain brought by Dodong.
NDRRMC executive director Benito Ramos identified the fatality as Alejandara Marifil of barangay Carmen in San Agustin, Romblon while Mark Mateo of Batangas City was reported missing since Wednesday.
Ramos said a certain Marcel Baroga was reported missing yesterday afternoon after a sea mishap involving a barge loaded with soya beans which drifted along the coast of Sariaya, Quezon.
A crewmember identified as Jenson Teruel sustained minor injury while seven of his companions were able to swim to shore.
Reports said two teenagers drowned in North Cotabato.
Ramos said 153 families or 368 persons from four barangays of Batangas City have been brought to four evacuation centers. In Tagaytay, a total of 20 families or 40 persons have been evacuated to a barangay hall.
Ramos said floodwaters in Batangas have subsided but flooding incidents were monitored in Occidental Mindoro and parts of Central Luzon.
The NDRRMC said 19 towns were under floodwaters after heavy rains driven by the low pressure area began falling since Monday.
“The water in some parts was chest deep,” said Nasser Mastura, vice governor of Maguindanao province that is among those heavily inundated.
“We have removed thousands to safer grounds,” he said on local radio without giving exact numbers.
Various areas in Ilocos and Cagayan Valley regions also experienced cloudy weather with scattered and intermittent rain showers.
PAGASA warned residents in low lying and mountainous areas under signal no. 1 against possible flashfloods and landslides.
“Dodong is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon and will bring rains over the western sections of Central and Southern Luzon,” PAGASA said.
“We are expected to have continuing heavy rains today until late tomorrow (today),” senior state weather forecaster Robert Sawi said.
Local civil defense offices have issued memoranda to their field units asking them to activate their respective disaster operations centers and to be ready for deployment when needed.
Disaster management officials in Quezon province have alerted all municipalities along the coastline to be on the lookout for possible fishing vessels that might drift in their respective areas.
The tropical depression is expected to be 460 km west of Basco, Batanes this afternoon.
PAGASA senior weather forecaster Rene Paciente said Dodong is not expected to make landfall in any part of the country.
Paciente added there is a small possibility that the storm will change its current track.
Dodong is the fourth tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the first weather disturbance this month. – With Rainier Allan Ronda, Alexis Romero, AP