Storm signals up; heavy rains forecast for Aquino speech in Congress

MANILA, Philippines – Demonstrators for or against President Benigno Aquino III’s State of the Nation Address on Monday are advised to bring umbrellas.

A low pressure area on Friday developed into a tropical depression, named “Ferdie”, prompting the weather bureau to raise storm signals over parts of Northern Luzon.

“Ferdie,” is expected to bring gusty winds to the northern provinces while inducing the southwest monsoon that could bring brief but heavy rains along the entire western section of the country, including Metro Manila, from Saturday up to Monday, when Aquino delivers his speech before Congress.

As Ferdie swirled closer to the northern tip of the archipelago, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration raised Storm Signal No. 1 over Isabela, Cagayan, including Calayan and Babuyan groups of islands, Batanes Group of Islands, Kalinga, Apayao, Abra, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and Mt. Province.

The rainfall within its 400-kilometers radius is expected to be “heavy to intense” or about 10 millimeters to 25 millimeters, Pagasa warned.

“Areas under Signal No. 1 should expect moderate to heavy rainfall and gusty winds,” forecaster Fernando Cada said in an interview.

Residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas under Signal No. 1 have been alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Fishing boats and other small seacraft were also advised not to venture out into the seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon due to the combined effects of “Ferdie” and the southwest monsoon.

The depression was also forecast to enhance the southwest monsoon and bring rain over Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, especially the western section.

“The western section of Central and Southern Luzon will experience widespread rains, which can cause flash floods and landslides,” Cada said.

“Metro Manila will have cloudy skies with rain showers because of the enhanced southwest monsoon. These will be brief but heavy, and we would experience them until Monday,” Cada said.

By 4 p.m. Friday, the depression was swirling over the East Philippine Sea 130 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan, Pagasa said.

By Saturday afternoon, “Ferdie” is forecast to be 140 km north-northwest of Laoag City; 380 km west-northwest of Laoag City by Sunday afternoon; and 660 km west-northwest of Laoag City by Monday afternoon, Pagasa said.