‘Sendong’ intensifies, heads for Davao Or.

Tropical storm Sendong intensified further over the Philippine Sea yesterday and changed direction slightly, swirling toward Davao Oriental instead of Surigao del Sur, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

The tropical storm, now packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gusting up to 90 kph, was expected to make landfall in the vicinity of Bangaga, Davao Oriental, between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. yesterday.

Pagasa raised storm signal no. 2 over Surigao del Norte, including Siargao Island, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Province, the Agusan provinces, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Samal Island, the Lanao provinces, the Misamis provinces, the Zamboanga provinces, North Cotabato, Compostela Valley, Bukidnon, Camiguin and Maguindanao, as well as Southern Leyte, Bohol, southern Cebu, southern Negros, and Siquijor Island.

Signal no. 1 was hoisted over Davao Del Sur, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, Sarangani Province and Basilan Province; Eastern and Western Samar, Northern Leyte, Northern Cebu, Northern Negros, Iloilo, Capiz, Antique, Aklan and Guimaras Province; and Palawan, including Cuyo Island.

“Tonight, we should expect heavy rain in Northeastern Mindanao,” forecaster Raymond Ordinario said in a briefing, warning local government officials and residents in these areas to be on alert for flashfloods and landslides.

Pagasa Deputy Administrator Vicente Malano specifically advised mining companies in Compostela Valley to suspend operations in view of the approaching storm.

“We have miners. They should suspend operations for now. They should be prepared for possible heavy rain. There are many landslide-prone areas in Compostela Valley, especially in Mt. Diwalwal,” he said.

The storm was expected to weaken after hitting land. It would bring rain and gusty winds as it crosses Visayas and Mindanao and until it exits in Palawan toward the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), the forecaster said.

“By Sunday it will be in Palawan. So those areas earlier hit by it would have improved weather by that time,” Ordinario said.

As of 10 a.m. yesterday, the storm was swirling over the Philippine Sea 180 km east southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. While over water, it shifted direction from west northwest to west at a slightly higher speed of 26 kph.

The northeast monsoon and winds from the east or easterlies were blamed for the change in direction.

The storm was expected to enhance the northeast monsoon (Amihan) and bring rain over Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon, making sea travel off the western seaboards of Luzon and the Visayas risky.  INQUIRER