'Goring' exits; rains to prevail

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical depression “Goring” left the country yesterday but will continue to bring rains over Luzon and the Visayas until tomorrow, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

“Goring will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring occasional rains in Luzon and Visayas, becoming frequent over the western section which may trigger flashfloods and landslides,” PAGASA said.

As of 10 a.m. yesterday, the center of Goring was spotted at 460 kilometers north of Basco, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center.

It was moving west northwest at 10 kph and is expected to be 600 km north northwest of Basco or 170 km northwest of Taipei, Taiwan this morning.

It was the seventh tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the first weather disturbance this month.

Two or three tropical cyclones are predicted to enter the Philippine area of responsibility this month, PAGASA said.

Meanwhile, PAGASA supervising undersecretary Graciano Yumul said the low pressure area east of Mindanao is likely to dissipate and will not intensify into a tropical cyclone.

As of 2 a.m. yesterday, the low pressure area was estimated at 210 km east northeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.

“The western section of Luzon, including the National Capital Region, will be cloudy with rains up to Tuesday. Improved weather is expected on Wednesday,” Yumul said.

No agri damage

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said tropical depression Goring did not cause damage in agriculture.

“Goring did not damage crops even in affected areas like Region 1 (Ilocos) Cordillera, and Region 2 (Cagayan),” NDRRMC Executive Director Benito Ramos told radio dzBB yesterday.

Ramos said they have not monitored any incident of flashflood in areas hit by Goring.

“So far there is no flashflood. The rains were not sudden,” he said noting that flashfloods happen if the rains are continuous.

Ramos, however, said fishermen should defer plans to go fishing until the weather conditions improve.

NDRRMC has also directed its field units to continue monitoring the situation in their respective areas given that the country is bracing for another low pressure area.

Ramos said regional disaster management officials have been tasked to undertake precautionary measures and prepare contingency plans. – With Alexis Romero