Pagasa lifts storm signals in 5 provinces

This satellite photo released by Pagasa mid-Tuesday morning, Jan. 2, 2018, shows tropical depression ‘Agaton’ somewhere west of Negros Island in the Visayas. PAGASA IMAGE

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has lifted storm signals over five provinces as tropical depression “Agaton” moved westward to Palawan province.

Tropical cyclone warning signal No. 1 has been lifted over Bohol, Guimaras, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, southern Antique and southern Iloilo, Pagasa said in its 2 p.m. severe weather bulletin on Tuesday.

Signal No. 1 remains over Palawan and Cuyo Island, where it is expected to make landfall Tuesday night.

Agaton has maintained its strength at 55 kilometers per hour (kph) but its gustiness slightly weakened from 90 kph to 65 kph. It was last spotted 245 kilometers east southeast of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan.

It will continue to bring moderate to heavy rains in the province, as well as the regions of Bicol and Eastern Visayas, Panay Island, southern part of Quezon province, and the provinces of Mindoro, Marinduque, and Romblon.

Residents of these areas must undertake precautionary measures against possible flooding and landslides and coordinate with their respective local disaster risk reduction and management offices, Pagasa said.

Sea travel remains risky along the shores of Palawan and Cuyo Island, as well as the seaboards of Northern Luzon and Southern Luzon, eastern seaboard of Central Luzon, eastern and western seaboards of Visayas, and eastern seaboard of Mindanao due to the surge of Agaton as well as the surge of the northeast monsoon (amihan). /jpv

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