MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/28 December) – Tropical Depression Seniang was moving closer to Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its advisory issued at 11:00 a.m. Sunday.
Seniang was spotted 210 km East of Hinatuan as of 10:00 a.m. Sunday carrying maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center, and was forecast to move west at 11 kph, Pagasa said.
The weather disturbance is expected to be 100 km north of Hinatuan or in the vicinity of Tandag, Surigao del Sur by Monday morning, and 30 km west of Tagbilaran City in Bohol by Tuesday morning.
Seniang is expected to make landfall Monday morning in the vicinity of Tandag with occasional rains and gusty winds and moderate to heavy rainfall (7-15mm per hours), the state weather bureau said.
Pagasa has placed 10 provinces in Mindanao under Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1. These are Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, Camiguin Island, Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon.
Southern Leyte, Bohol and Siquijor provinces in the have also been placed under PSWS No. 1.
Pagasa alerted residents in low lying and mountainous areas of these provinces as well as the rest of Mindanao against possible flashfloods and landslides.
Fisherfolks and those with small sea crafts are advised not to venture out over the eastern seaboard of Visayas and Mindanao, it added.
In Cagayan de Oro City, Teddy Sabugaa, chief of the City Social Welfare and Development Office said they have raised a “blue alert” and activated their command center at the city hall.
He said they have already warned residents in flood-prone barangays to be alert and ready for preemptive evacuation.
Edmundo Pacamalan Jr., chief of the Misamis Oriental Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the water levels in several rivers in the towns of Balingasag, Talisayan and Gingoog City have risen after a night of heavy rains.
Pacamalan said a “yellow alert” has been raised over the entire province and two DRRMC centers were activated in Gingoog City and at the Provincial Capitol in Cagayan de Oro. (With a report from Froilan Gallardo)
