Tropical Depression Usman slows down toward Eastern Visayas

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Depression Usman has slowed down as it moves toward Eastern Visayas, the storm monitoring of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) showed yesterday.

Despite this, NDRRMC executive director and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) administrator Richard Jalad warned the public as well as all disaster units to take the necessary precautionary measures to cushion a possible disastrous impact of the severe weather system.

At 4 p.m. yesterday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) estimated the center of the tropical depression to be at 410 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

It is moving west at only 10 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 65 kph.

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 1 was raised over Romblon, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon and Masbate, including Ticao and Burias Islands—all in Luzon.

In the Visayas, Signal No. 1 was also hoisted over Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Northern Cebu (including Camotes Island), Aklan, Capiz, Northern Iloilo and Northern Negros Occidental. The same advisory was also raised for Dinagat Island in Mindanao.

PAGASA cited the possible raising of the same advisory over Camarines Norte, Southern Quezon, Marinduque, Southern Oriental Mindoro, Antique, rest of Iloilo, and Guimaras in the next advisory.

  Moderate to heavy rains—which may trigger flooding and landslides—will prevail over Visayas, Bicol region, Mindoro provinces, Marinduque, Romblon and Quezon today.             

The rest of Caraga and Visayas will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.

Residents of the identified areas, especially those living near river channels and in low-lying and mountainous areas, are advised to take appropriate measures, coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and continue monitoring for updates. 

Fisherfolk and those with small seacraft are advised not to venture out to the seaboards of areas under TCWS #1, as well as in northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Surigao provinces.             

The Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley and Cordillera Administrative Region will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rains due to the northeast monsoon.             

The northeast monsoon will also bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains over Metro Manila and rest of Luzon.             

Meanwhile, the rest of Mindanao will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers brought by localized thunderstorm.             

Usman may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility between Sunday evening and Monday morning.

Quick response teams

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) activated the quick response teams (QRTs) of its regional field offices along Usman’s expected path.

The DSWD said it has a total stockpile and standby fund of P1,279,393,332 for Usman alone. This includes 404,948 family food packs amounting to more than P144.8 million and available food and non-food items amounting to more than P919.9 million.

Capt. Armand Balilo, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman, said they have also suspended all sea trips to and from 11 areas in the country.

He said all types of vehicles would be barred from leaving port in areas that PAGASA placed under warning Signal #1.

Balilo said that sea voyages “will resume upon improvement of weather and sea condition in these areas.”

 As of 12 noon yesterday, the PCG said the number of stranded passengers in the country reached 6,445, with Matnog port in Sorsogon accounting for the highest number at 2,357 passengers. 

Balilo said PCG commandant Admiral Elson Hermogino has reminded all Coast Guard units to strictly implement Memorandum Circular 02-2013 that covers the Guidelines on Movement of Vessels During Heavy Weather.

 The memorandum states that “No vessel of any type or tonnage shall be allowed to sail except to take shelter, as the situation may warrant, when Public Storm Warning Signal (PSWS) No. 1 or higher is hoisted within its point of origin, the intended route, and point of destination.”    – With Rhodina Villanueva, Rainier Allan Ronda, Evelyn Macairan