TROPICAL DEPRESSION Agaton has maintained its strength as it made landfall over Aborlan, Palawan province Tuesday night, January 2.
In its 11 p.m. Tuesday advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that as of 10 p.m., the center of the tropical depression was estimated at 40 kilometers (km) south of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, and is forecast to move west at 30 kilometers per hour (kph).
Pagasa said Agaton has maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 75 kph.
Palawan is placed under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal Number 1, wherein moderate to heavy rains and 30 to 60 kph winds are expected in the next 36 hours.
Moderate to heavy rains is also expected over Bicol Region, Samar provinces, Southern Quezon, Panay Island and the rest of Mimaropa, Pagasa said.
Sea travel is risky over Palawan and the seaboards of Northern Luzon and Southern Luzon, eastern seaboard of Central Luzon, eastern and western seaboards of Visayas, and eastern seaboard of Mindanao due to the surge of northeast monsoon and the tropical depression.
Residents of these areas must undertake precautionary measures against possible flooding and landslides and coordinate with their respective local disaster risk reduction and management offices.
Pagasa said Agaton is expected to be at 165 km northwest of Pagasa Island, Palawan by Wednesday night, January 3. (DDA/SunStar Philippines)