PAGASA, NDRRMC hope storm will hit Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines - Government agencies are hoping that approaching Tropical Storm "Domeng" will also bring rains to Luzon and Metro Manila where the water levels of various dams are now decreasing due to the dry season.

Weather forecaster Rene Paciente of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said so far, there is no chance that Domeng would hit Metro Manila and Luzon.

"Sana ganoon ang mangyari na dito mapunta sa Maynila para magkaroon ng additional water ang mga dams natin," Paciente said at a televised press conference before Monday noon.

According to PAGASA, the water levels of some major dams in Luzon and Metro Manila continue to decline though they remain in a normal level.

As of 6 a.m. today, the water level of the Angat Dam in Bulacan is at 189.38 meters. PAGASA noted in the press conference that this has been decreasing by 20 centimeters per day.

Eduardo del Rosario, the executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), is also hoping that the rainfall from the tropical storm will replenish the Luzon dams.

"Makikita po natin, sa isang banda, maganda rin itong nagkakaroon nga ng ganitong bagyo na mahina," del Rosario said. "Sana palaging mahina. And we hope na mapunta nga rito sa Metro Manila, dito sa Luzon, para yung level ng mga dam natin, tumaas."

But del Rosario also warned of the possible effects of the storm if it stays in the same area for three to five days.

According to PAGASA, the center of the tropical storm was last located at 770 kilometers east of Davao City with maximum winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 80 kilometers per hour.

Moderate to heavy rainfall (5 to 15 millimeters per hour) is also expected within the 400-kilometer diameter of the tropical storm. Del Rosario said the country can withstand Domeng's winds and rains.

"Itong 65 kilometers per hour... normal lang dito sa ating bansa. Masasabi natin, no cause for alarm," del Rosario said. "65 kph for us is not really that strong."

Though his agency is not considering the approaching storm as a destructive one, del Rosario said they are still in blue alert in preparation for the possible effects of the storm.

Paciente said Domeng is expected to make landfall over the Surigao provinces on Thursday morning and then cross northeastern Mindanao and southern part of Cebu and Negros Provinces. It will be over the Sulu Sea by Friday.

He said the storm may directly affect Southern Cebu, Bohol, Negros, and Coron in northern Palawan. -Louis Bacani