Tropical Depression Verbena made landfall over Bayabas town in Surigao del Sur on Monday, according to state meteorologists.
Verbena made landfall in the area at 1:30 p.m., according to Grace Castañeda, weather specialist of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
As of 4:00 p.m., Castañeda said Verbena was spotted in the vicinity of Jabonga, Agusan del Norte, packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, and gustiness of up to 75 kph.
Areas in southern Luzon, the entire Visayas, and Mindanao, are expecting overcast skies with rains due to Verbena.
Pagasa also raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 (winds of 39 to 61 kph, with minimal to minor threat to life and property) across parts of Luzon, the entire Visayas and parts of Mindanao.
Here are the areas under Signal No. 1:
Luzon: Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, the northern and central portions of Palawan (Araceli, Taytay, El Nido, Dumaran, Roxas, San Vicente, Puerto Princesa City) including Calamian, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo Islands, and mainland Masbate Balud, Mandaon, Milagros, Cawayan, Placer, Pio V. Corpuz, Esperanza, Uson, Dimasalang, City of Masbate, Mobo, Palanas, Aroroy, Cataingan, Baleno)
Visayas: Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Cebu, Bohol, Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran, Leyte and Southern Leyte
Mindanao: Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, and the northern portion of Bukidnon (Baungon, Libona, Manolo Fortich, Sumilao, Impasug-Ong, City of Malaybalay, Malitbog, Cabanglasan), the northern portion of Misamis Occidental (Sapang Dalaga, Calamba, Baliangao, Plaridel, Lopez Jaena, Oroquieta City, Aloran, Panaon, Jimenez, Concepcion), and the northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte (Jose Dalman, Manukan, Pres. Manuel A. Roxas, Katipunan, Dipolog City, Polanco, Piñan, Dapitan City, La Libertad, Sibutad, Rizal, Mutia)
Signal No. 2 not ruled out
Castañeda said that while TCWS No. 1 is seen as the ‘highest possible wind signal’ to be hoisted by Pagasa, the people should not be complacent.
‘While it is not that strong compared to previous tropical cyclones we experienced, we should expect minimal to minor damage in structures made of light materials,’ she said in a public weather forecast.
Verbena will likely cross Visayas as a tropical depression, Pagasa said.
Castañeda said it may reach tropical storm category either before reaching northern Palawan or once over the West Philippine Sea, and once that occurs, Pagasa’s hoisting of TCWS No. 2 is still possible.
Sea travel suspended
In a related development, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is suspending all trips of vessels and watercraft in areas under TCWS No. 1.
‘Definitely, in all areas where Wind Signal No. 1 is raised, sea travel is suspended,’ PCG spokesperson Noemi Cayabyab told reporters.
As of 12:00 p.m., the PCG said it monitored 40 ports or areas nationwide where 2,373 passengers, truck drivers and cargo helpers were stranded, while 46 vessels and nine motorbancas took shelter there due to Verbena.