'Pepeng' moves out of RP, rains loom over western Luzon

Only La Union and Western Pangasinan remained under Storm Signal No. 1 as tropical depression "Pepeng" (Parma) continued to move away from the country early Saturday. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said rainshowers and thunderstorms still loom over parts of the country. “Western Luzon will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to at times cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms," it said in its 5 a.m. weather bulletin. It added moderate to strong winds blowing from the Southwest to Southeast will prevail over Luzon and Western Visayas with moderate to rough seas. Light to moderate winds blowing from the Southwest will prevail over the rest of the country with slight to moderate seas, it said. But Pagasa weather bureau chief Nathaniel Cruz said northern Luzon will experience at least five days of fair weather while no other weather disturbance is spotted in the Pacific Ocean after the re-entry of Pepeng into the Philippine area of responsibility. As of 4 a.m., Pagasa said “Pepeng" was 240 kms west-southwest of Vigan City, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center. “Pepeng" was forecast to move west at 13 kph and is expected to be 510 kms west of Vigan City, Ilocos Sur Sunday morning. However, Pagasa reminded residents in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes under Signal No. 1 to take precautions against flashfloods and landslides. Meanwhile, Pagasa said strong to gale force winds is expected to affect the seaboards of Luzon and Western Visayas. “Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," it said. - GMANews.TV