'Egay' brings heavy rains

Manila, Philippines - Storm warning signals were raised over at least three areas in Luzon and the Visayas yesterday as tropical depression “Egay” moved closer to the country.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised storm warning signal no. 1 over Catanduanes and Northern and Eastern Samar as of 5 p.m. yesterday.

PAGASA senior weather forecaster Rene Paciente said Egay maintained its strength and course in the afternoon, threatening Eastern Visayas and Catanduanes.

As of 4 p.m., the eye of Egay was spotted 250 kilometers (kms) east of Guiuan City, Eastern Samar with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center.

It was forecast to move northwest at 13 kph.

Egay was forecast to be 250 kms southeast of Virac, Catanduanes this afternoon; 200 kms north northeast of Virac tomorrow afternoon and 180 kms northeast of Tuguegarao, Cagayan by Monday afternoon.

Paciente warned residents in low lying and mountainous areas under signal no. 1 against possible flashfloods and landslides.

“Egay is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon and will bring rains over the Western sections of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,” PAGASA said.

Paciente said the weather disturbance is expected to bring 15 to 25 millimeters of rain in areas along its path.

Graciano Yumul, supervising undersecretary of PAGASA, said Egay is expected to become a storm today.

Yumul said Metro Manila will also experience rains this weekend due to the enhanced southwest monsoon.

Egay is the fifth tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the second weather disturbance this month.

Proactive action sought

Meantime, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) yesterday called on its field units to strive for zero casualties as tropical depression Egay enters the Philippine area of responsibility.

In a memorandum, NDRRMC executive director Benito Ramos called on disaster management officials to closely monitor the situation in their respective areas and to issue warnings through the media.

“Emphasis should be on proactive actions – evacuation rather than rescue. Let us untiringly aim for zero casualties,” Ramos said.

He also cited the need to draft precautionary plans and to coordinate with community leaders.

“You are hereby directed to monitor the situation and undertake the precautionary measures in your area of responsibility,” Ramos said.

The NDRRMC official also ordered provincial disaster management councils to initiate preemptive evacuation of families in low-lying and mountainous areas if needed. – With Alexis Romero