‘Bising’ weakens into LPA

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical Depression Bising weakened into a low-pressure area yesterday, but the state weather bureau still warned the public of big waves along the country’s northern and eastern coasts.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the low-pressure area was spotted at 690 kilometers east of Juban, Sorsogon as of 4 p.m. yesterday.

But the agency retained its gale warning over the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon and the Visayas due to the surge of the northeast monsoon.

PAGASA said big waves of up to 4.5 meters high are expected over Aurora, Catanduanes, eastern coast of Albay, eastern coast of Sorsogon, as well as the coasts of Northern and Eastern Samar.

Rough to very rough seas will also prevail over Batanes, Calayan, Babuyan, northern coast of Cagayan and northern coast of Ilocos Norte. 

PAGASA said cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms would persist over eastern Visayas.

The northeast monsoon, meanwhile, will continue to bring cloudy skies with light rains over Batanes and Calayan.

It will also bring partly cloudy skies with isolated light rains over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms will likewise prevail over the rest of the country.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it has enough available resources in its field offices to respond to any possible impact of the weather disturbance.

The DSWD said it now has a standby supply of 481,824 family food packs in warehouses strategically located in all regions of the country and stockpile and standby funds amounting to over P2.3 billion.

The DSWD-Disaster Response Assistance and Management Bureau also remains on blue alert, or second stage, for the possible onslaught of Bising in the eastern regions of the country.

Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo called on the public to remain vigilant and to maintain coordination with local government units  for instructions on their possible evacuation and preparations.        

Some 4,227 families or 20,213 individuals are still taking refuge in 127 evacuation centers in the Caraga region due to inclement weather and flooding caused by the tail-end of a cold front. – With Rainier Allan Ronda