More weather disturbances coming

Despite the exit of Tropical Storm “Dodong” from the Philippine area of responsibility, disaster officials were cautioned Saturday to remain on alert following the detection of two more weather disturbances in Mindanao.

In its latest weather advisory, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) warned of a low pressure area observed some 250 kilometers east of Davao City and embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone affecting Mindanao.

“Both weather systems are expected to bring scattered widespread rains over Mindanao, which may trigger flash floods and landslides,” said NDRRMC executive director Benito Ramos in the 11 a.m. advisory.

As of 2 p.m. yesterday, the low pressure area was spotted 170 km northeast of Davao City.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that Palawan, the Visayas and Mindanao would experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.

These could become widespread rains over Mindanao and eastern Visayas, and trigger flash floods and landslides, the weather bureau said.

Central Luzon and the western section of southern Luzon would have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.

The rest of the country would have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers and thunderstorms, mostly in the afternoons or evenings.

The formation of the low pressure area came after “Dodong” left the country.

The Philippines recently entered its rainy season which is expected to last until September. Two to three tropical cyclones are expected to hit the country this month.

According to the NDRRMC, the weather advisory was sent to all regions through fax and online for further dissemination to their respective Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council from the provincial down to the municipal levels.

“Emphasis should be on proactive actions—evacuation rather than rescue. Let us untiringly aim for zero casualties,” Ramos said in the advisory.

Dodong left the country on Friday, leaving at least two dead in Batangas and Romblon by drowning, and 12 missing as of Friday evening, according to the NDRRMC.

Some 38 fishermen who encountered rough seas were rescued, including all 24 fishermen and crew members of the boat F/V 3MS Wolf.

The NDRRMC said almost 700 people from Batangas City, Tagaytay City and Taguig City who sought refuge in evacuation centers had returned home, except for five families in a Gawad Kalinga building in Taguig City.