" TYPHOON FALCON "






MANILA, Philippines --  For strong to gale force winds associated with Tropical Storm "FALCON", PAGASA  issued  GALE WARNING NO. 15  at 5:00 p.m. today .

PAGASA said strong to gale force wind is expected to affect the seaboards of Luzon. The eastern, western  and northern seaboards of Luzon will have cloudy skies with scattered to widespread rainshowers and thunderstorm.

Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves.

Forecast:

Northern and Central Luzon including Metro Manila will experience Monsoon rains becoming widespread rains over the Western section which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. Southern Tagalog will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to at times cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the Southwest will prevail over Luzon and coming from the Southeast to Southwest over the rest of the country. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough.

EARLIER STORY:

Tropical Storm Falcon is expected to be at 710 km north northeast of Basco Batanes by Saturday afternoon.  Public Storm Warning Signal (PSWS) No.1 is hoisted over Calayan, Babuyan Group of Islands and Batanes Group of Islands.

At 4:00 a.m. today, Tropical Storm "FALCON" was estimated based on satellite and surface data at 590 km East Northeast of Basco, Batanes (26.0°N, 124.1°E) with maximum sustained winds of 105 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kph. It is forecast to move North Northwest at 24 kph.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical  and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA  ) reported at 5:00 a.m. today that Tropical Storm "FALCON" has gained more strength and further accelerated as it continues to move away from the country.

The storm is expected to continue to enhance the southwest monsoon and bring rains over Luzon and Western Visayas.

So far,it is estimated that more than 10,000 families were affected while several areas in Central Luzon remain flooded due to heavy rains brought about by tropical storm "Falcon".

Meanwhile, the  National  Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council  (NDRRMC) has been disseminating Advisories on Severe Weather Bulletins as well as General Flood Advisories for all the regions of the country. It also directed the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management  concerned through the OCD Regional Centers to undertake precautionary measures in their respective areas of responsibility (AOR). The  local DRRMCs were advised to initiate pre-emptive evacuation of families in low-lying and mountainous areas if situation warrants.

As per latest  NDRRMC update,  10,106 families or 52,907 individuals in the provinces of Zambales, Bulacan and Pampanga , specifically from the towns of San Antonio, Botolan, Cabangan and Sto. Tomas in Zambales; Meycauayan City and Marilao town in Bulacan; Guagua, Minalin and Lubao in Pampanga. were affected by flooding due to continuous rains.

The road in Barangay Antipolo, San Antonio, Zambales, was eroded  by flood and rendered not passable to all types of vehicles. Bgy San Antonio, also in Zambales was likewise eroded but remains passable to all types of vehicles.

In Zambales alone, damage to crops was estimated at P1,843,211; fisheries at P20,250 and infrastructure at P60,000.