'Agaton' intensifies but won't affect RP

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical depression Agaton (international name: Omais) has intensified into a storm but is not expected to hit any part of the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said yesterday.

Pagasa senior weather forecaster Robert Sawi said the storm is unlikely to affect the country as it is expected to move toward Japan or dissipate in the next two to three days.

“It will not directly affect any part of the country,” Sawi said in a phone interview.

Pagasa forecaster Elvie Enriquez said Agaton is “useless” as it cannot bring relief to areas devastated by the dry spell.

“It has no effect yet on any part of the country. You can say Agaton is useless because it had been expected to bring rains, but it does not look like it will,” she said in a radio interview.

As of 2 p.m. yesterday, the eye of Agaton was spotted at 790 kilometers east-northeast of Virac, Catanduanes, packing winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

Agaton, the first weather disturbance to enter the Philippine area of responsibility this year, was forecast to move north at 11 kph.