CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) yesterday warned of continuous rain in the next two days owing to the presence of a low pressure area in Mindanao.
As of yesterday, the LPA was about 150 kilometers East of Davao City with coordinates of 7.3 degrees North and 127.2 degrees east.
Weather specialist Van Singson said the weather system showed that the LPA is expected to bring moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorm over Eastern Visayas. Cebu and rest of the Visayas will have light to moderate rain shower and thunderstorms.
PAGASA cautioned the rains will trigger flashfloods and landslides in areas prone to the same.
Winds are reportedly expected to range from moderate to strong from northeast to east direction that would bring moderate to rough seas.
Singson said the weather is expected to improve by today with partly cloudy and isolated rain shower with thunderstorm.
“Ang LPA naa pa gihapon by tomorrow pero among gitan-aw if mag-landfall sa Mindanao kay since dako ug land mass ang area so malusaw ra siya but at this point in time naa pa sa dagat,” Singson said yesterday.
PAGASA expected at least two tropical cyclones that would enter the region before the year ends.
Reports said earlier the El Niño phenomenon would start early by last month but PAGASA said the same weakened, which is good news for agriculture producers. The possibility of experiencing the phenomenon remains but only on a “neutral range”.
The cold weather is also due to the wind coming from the northeast.
Based on the agency’s observation, sea surface temperatures in the Pacific did not meet the criteria for El Niño although they were warmer than average and the corresponding atmospheric features are yet to appear.
PREPARED
The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said no landslide was reported yesterday, but barangay disaster risk reduction teams have been advised to be vigilant at all times.
“There is no reason to be complacent gyod karong panahona. Compared sa three years ago, maka-predict nata kon unsa kakusog ang bagyo ug asa ni padulong, pero karon dapat na hourly ang atong advisory kay dali ra kaayo mausab,” Tumulak said.
“Dapat naa nay trimming of trees along Sitios that are densely populated, canals should be cleared, emergency vehicles should be prepared, and get ready with its emergency equipment,” he added.
Tumulak said he is glad that information education of strengthening and empowering the barangay risk reduction teams in all 80 barangays in the city has concluded, adding that CCDRRMC is now penetrating down to the Sitio-level in disseminating information on disaster preparedness.
He advised the public to monitor weather updates constantly through the barangay or via social media.
Meanwhile, the three fishermen who were reported missing in Jagna town in Bohol during the onslaught of tropical depression Queenie were found dead yesterday.
Roque Sandoval, 62, of Libertad, Misamis Oriental; Adrian Suan, Ubay, of Ubay Bohol; and Robinson Ceballos, 32, of Jagna, Bohol, were found at the shores of Jagna.
As of yesterday, Oscar Dejasa, 39, of Initaw, Misamis Oriental and Rocky Bantilan, 31, of Jagna Bohol remained missing.
In a telephone interview, PO3 Van Balabat of the Jagna Police, said they found the bodies of the victims while on board a fishing vessel.
The victims were sailing from Jagna toward Anda town, also in Bohol, on November 35, but the vessel marked “A20” sank following strong winds and big waves.
Two days after they were reported missing they were found dead and the other two fishermen on board that ill-fated fishing vessel is still missing.
The dead left behind by the tropical depression has increased to six. (FREEMAN)