RAINS brought by Tropical Depression Onyok is actually a blessing for Negros Occidental especially in areas affected by dry spell brought about by the El Niño.
Zeaphard Gerhart Caelian, head of the Provincial Disaster Management Program Division, said that some farmers especially in central Negros have been complaining that their fields have dried up.
Based on forecast, Caelian said scattered rains have been experienced in some parts of the province.
Although there is no possibility that “Onyok” will pass through the province, Caelian advised the public to always monitor the weather update and immediately take action in case of three or more hours of heavy rains in their respective areas.
“Onyok” was expected to make landfall over Davao Oriental last night, said the state weather bureau.
As of late afternoon Friday, the eye of Onyok was located at 210 kilometers east of Mati City, Davao Oriental, packing maximum winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that Onyok has slowed down and slightly weakened as it moves closer to Davao Oriental. It is expected to further weaken into a low pressure area (LPA) upon landfall.
Pagasa added that it is forecast to move west at 18 kph.
Public Storm Warning Signal Number 1 was hoisted over Surigao del Sur, including Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Province, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Misamis Occidental, Davao del Sur, Maguindanao and North Cotabato.
“Onyok” will bring heavy to intense rains in areas within its 150 kilometers diameter, said Pagasa.
With this, the weather bureau warned residents in low lying and mountainous areas of the provinces under storm signal number 1 against possible flashfloods and landslides.
“Sea travel is risky over the seaboards of Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Visayas due to big waves generated by the surge of the Northeast monsoon,” it said. (with reports from Sunnex)