Julian may become typhoon this weekend

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical cyclone Julian is expected to further intensify and may reach typhoon category this weekend but will not make landfall, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Tropical Depression Julian was monitored 455 kilometers east of Itbayat, Batanes as of 3 p.m. yesterday, packing peak sustained winds of 55 km per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph.

It was forecast to intensify into a tropical storm category last night or this morning and become a typhoon by tomorrow.

PAGASA said that signal No. 2 or 3 may be raised during the passage of Julian inside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).

It may follow a looping path over the waters east of Batanes and Cagayan in the next five days.

It will accelerate and move northward by Monday onwards.

Julian is already bringing scattered rains over Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Batanes, Cagayan and Isabela.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country may see isolated rains due to localized thunderstorms.

PAGASA is also monitoring a tropical storm, with international name Jebi, outside PAR.

Jebi was monitored 2,420 km east of Central Luzon and was carrying maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

Monsoon, typhoon damage

The damage of the southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones Ferdie, Gener and Helen to the agriculture sector has reached P1.09 billion, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

At least 24,247 hectares of agricultural lands in Mimaropa, Western Visayas and Zamboanga peninsula were affected by the rains and flooding brought by the recent typhoons, according to DA data.

The damage was reported on rice, corn, high value crops, livestock and irrigation facilities with production loss of 50,913 metric tons (MT) displacing at least 24,513 farmers.

At least 95 percent of the losses was recorded on rice with P1.04 billion covering 23,692 hectares and production loss of 49,205 MT.

The damage to corn reached P24.75 million covering 380 hectares and with production loss of 1,192 MT; high value crops, P20.36 million covering 176 hectares and production loss of 516 MT; livestock and poultry, P3.32 million affecting 2,154 heads and irrigation facilities, P2.3 million.

DA said affected farmers can avail themselves of the P25,000 loan under the

Survival and Recovery Loan Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council which is payable in three years at zero interest. — Bella Cariaso, Jasper Emmanuel Arcalas