PAGASA advises public to brace for more rains

MANILA, Philippines -  The weather bureau advised the public yesterday to brace for more rains with a tropical depression threatening the country and expected to intensify later this week.

Graciano Yumul, supervising undersecretary of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said the low pressure area off Mindanao is expected to intensify into a tropical depression and enter the country tomorrow.

Yumul said the tropical depression will be given the local name “Egay” once it enters the Philippine area of responsibility.

He said the weather disturbance would enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rains over most parts of the country, including Metro Manila, until early next week.

“(Egay) will enter the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday but will not make landfall and will go to Japan,” Yumul said.                    

As of 8 a.m. yesterday, it was spotted 250 kilometers east of Southern Mindanao, embedded along the intertropical convergence zone.

“This weather system is expected to bring scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms over Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao becoming widespread rains over Northern Palawan and Southern Mindanao which may trigger flashfloods and landslides,” PAGASA said.

Science Secretary Mario Montejo said 50 additional automatic weather stations are expected to be installed nationwide by next week.

He said the Department of Science and Technology, mother agency of PAGASA, would also purchase two more Doppler radars this year.

PAGASA officials said seven Doppler radars located in Baguio City, Baler, Aurora; Subic, Zambales; Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur; Tagaytay City; Mactan City, Cebu, and Tampakan, South Cotabato will be operational this year.

Doppler radars are capable of generating short-term but highly accurate weather forecasts.