Fabian to bring more rains

MANILA, Philippines - A cyclone formed over the West Philippine Sea yesterday and is expected to bring more rains over the western part of Luzon in the next few days.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Tropical Depression Fabian intensified from a low-pressure area hours after Tropical Storm Emong exited the Philippine area of responsibility.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the center of Fabian was estimated at 270 km northwest of Iba, Zambales. It had maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and was forecast to move north-northwest at 11 kph.

“Like Emong, the new weather disturbance is not expected to directly affect any part of the country,” PAGASA weather forecaster Joey Figuracion said.

But it will also enhance the southwest monsoon which will bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms over the western section of Luzon, particularly Palawan, Figuracion added.

PAGASA said that for the next 24 hours, the regions of Ilocos, central Luzon and Mimaropa will experience monsoon rains.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms.

The western seaboard of Luzon will be rough to very rough. Monsoon rains will also be experienced.

Figuracion said Fabian is predicted to leave the country on Saturday. If it maintains its present speed and direction, it will be at 350 km west of Sinait, Ilocos Norte this morning and 410 km northwest of Laoag City or outside of the Philippine territory by tomorrow morning.

For its part, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) yesterday asked its regional units to implement pre-emptive evacuation in risky areas when needed as Fabian enters the country.

The NDRRMC also directed local disaster management offices to come up with preparedness plans even if Fabian is not expected to have a direct effect on any part of the country.

Civil defense offices were reminded to disseminate appropriate warnings to areas that may experience heavy rains and thunderstorms.

“Emphasis should be on proactive actions – evacuation rather than rescue,” NDRRMC executive director Eduardo del Rosario said in his memorandum to local disaster management units.

Emong, meanwhile, was spotted at 570 km northeast of Basco, Batanes at 4 a.m. yesterday, packing winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph. It was forecast to move north at 22 kph.

PAGASA weather forecaster Jori Loiz, however, said one more cyclone is likely to enter the country this month. So far, three cyclones have entered the country this June: Dante, Emong and Fabian.

Dante and Emong did not make landfall but enhanced the southwest monsoon that brought heavy rains over many parts of the country, including Metro Manila, in the past days.

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The country needs an extra $47 million to help more than half a million displaced people recover from a killer typhoon last year and ongoing guerrilla activity, the UN and other aid donors said yesterday.

About 530,000 people urgently need permanent shelters and emergency jobs, while debris from last December’s Typhoon Pablo still has to be cleared, said David Carden of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. – Helen Flores, Alexis Romero