MALACAÑANG on Saturday, December 16, urged public to stay alert and prepare for Tropical Storm Urduja, which is expected to make a landfall over Northern and Eastern Samar Saturday afternoon.
Communications Secretary Martin Andanar reminded those who will be affected to heed the advice of local executives and disaster coordinating council to ensure their safety.
"Let us stay safe," Andanar said in an interview with state-run dzRB.
"It is very important for us to listen to our barangay captains, to our municipal mayors, and all our local government units. They are prepared to extend assistance to all of us," he added.
In its 11 a.m. bulletin, state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Urduja has slightly intensified and is now moving towards Samar and Sorsogon.
Pagasa said Urduja was located at 75 kilometers north northeast of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, as of 10 a.m. It has maximum sustained winds of 80 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 110 kph.
Moving west at 15 kph, Urduja is expected to make landfall over Northern and Eastern Samar on Saturday afternoon.
Public storm warning signal number 2 was hoisted over Aklan; Albay; Biliran; Capiz; Eastern Samar; Leyte; Masbate, including Burias and Ticao Islands; Northern Iloilo; Northern Samar; Romblon; and Sorsogon.
Areas under public storm warning signal number 2 are warned against possible occurrence of 4.1 to 14 meters coastal flooding.
Public storm warning signal number 1 was raised over Antique, Bohol, Calamian Group of Islands, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Cebu, Cuyo Islands, Dinagat Islands, Guimaras, Marinduque, Mindoro, Negros Occidental, Northern Bohol, Northern Negros Oriental, Rest of Iloilo, Southern Leyte, and Southern Quezon.
The state weather bureau warned residents of Batangas, Bicol region, Cavite, Laguna, Marinduque, Mindoro provinces, Romblon, Southern Quezon, and Visayas against possible flooding and landslides.
Pagasa said sea travel remains risky over the seaboards of areas under tropical cyclone warning signals. (SunStar Philippines)