TD Haishen approaches PAR

MANILA, Philippines — A tropical depression with the international name Haishen may enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) today, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

PAGASA said the low-pressure area developed into a tropical depression as of 10 a.m. yesterday.

In the 4 p.m. advisory, PAGASA said Haishen was spotted at 1,205 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas outside PAR.

The state weather bureau said it is packing winds of 55 kilometers per hour and gusts up to 70 kph.

The tropical depression is moving northwestward and will be given the local name Josie once it enters PAR. However, it will not make landfall in the country.

“While inside PAR, it will move generally northward, then turn north northeastward until it exits PAR by Wednesday,” PAGASA said.

They said it may develop into a tropical storm and will steadily weaken due to unfavorable environmental conditions.

Haishen is less likely to directly affect weather and sea conditions in the next few days, PAGASA said.

Meanwhile, state meteorologists noted that the southwest monsoon is now less likely to bring significant rainfall over the western sections of Northern and Central Luzon.

Cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms may occur in the Ilocos Region, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan and Tarlac.

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms may be experienced in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.

Inday death toll

The number of reported deaths from the combined effects of Typhoon Inday and the enhanced southwest monsoon has risen to 20, while 16 people are still missing, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said yesterday.

The reported fatalities subject to validation were from Tubungan, Iloilo, one; Malaybalay City and Quezon in Bukidnon, two; Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, one; Malapatan, Sarangani, 10 and Calanogas, Lanao del Sur, six.

Nine people were reported injured while 16 people were reported missing. Around 654,000 people nationwide have been affected by the weather disturbances.

More than 20,100 people were in 162 evacuation centers, while 2,453 are being assisted outside evacuation centers.

Damage to infrastructure is estimated at P3.18 billion. The government has provided P43.38 million worth of assistance to affected communities.

Meanwhile, two men – Joel Ompoc, 24, and King Amir Montilla, 23, residents of Barangay Baclay in Tukuran and Barangay Dalapang in Labangan, respectively – are still missing after they were swept away by rampaging floodwaters in separate incidents at their barangays in Zamboanga del Sur on Saturday. – Pia Lee-Brago, John Unson