Bising weakens, to exit this weekend

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Bising has weakened as it moved eastward, and is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) this weekend.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) lifted all tropical cyclone wind signals yesterday.

The typhoon is expected to be downgraded to a severe tropical storm today. It is forecast to weaken into a tropical storm tomorrow before transitioning into an extratropical cyclone outside the PAR on Monday.

As of 3 p.m. yesterday, the eye of Bising was located 390 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes.

It had maximum winds of 150 kms per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph. It was moving northeast at 15 kph.

PAGASA said the rainbands of Bising would continue to bring rains and thunderstorms over Northern Luzon.

Deaths hit 4

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the typhoon left four persons dead, two of them in Davao del Sur and one each in Southern Leyte and Catmon, Cebu.

Thirteen others were injured in Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas and Davao regions.

The NDRRMC said 1,030 houses were damaged in Bicol, Eastern Visayas and Caraga.

Damage to infrastructure and agriculture was pegged at P10.5 million and P211.6 million, respectively, as of yesterday.

The NDRRMC said 60,601 families or 235,750 people were affected by the typhoon in 965 barangays.

Over 18,000 individuals remain in 252 evacuation centers.

Enough relief supplies

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) gave assurance that it has enough relief supplies.

The DSWD said its Bicol regional office has stockpiles and standby fund amounting to P36.6 million, of which P15.8 million are non-food items and P11.1 million family food packs.

In Eastern Visayas, the DSWD field office has P44 million worth of stockpiles and standby fund for disaster operations.