Active low-pressure area threatens Luzon

An active low-pressure area (ALPA) spotted off Aurora province is threatening to trigger flash floods and landslides in parts of Luzon, state weather forecasters said Saturday afternoon. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the weather disturbance was estimated at 150 km east of Baler, Aurora as of 2 p.m. "Luzon will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms, becoming cloudy with scattered to widespread rains over the eastern section which may trigger flashfloods and landslides," it said in its 5 p.m. bulletin. PAGASA, however, did not indicate if the ALPA will intensify into a cyclone. Should it become a cyclone, the disturbance will be codenamed "Caloy." PAGASA also said the rest of the country would be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening. Moderate to strong winds from the southeast will prevail over the eastern section of Luzon and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Light to moderate winds blowing from the southeast will prevail over the rest of the country with slight to moderate seas. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) urged residents in areas the weather disturbance may affect to take extra precaution. The NDCC issued its advisory to local disaster management units earlier in the day, when the disturbance was still a shallow low-pressure area. "This weather system is expected to bring occasional to frequent rains over Aurora, Quezon and Bicol region which may trigger flash floods and landslides ... Residents in these areas are advised to take all the necessary precautionary measures," NDCC executive officer Benito Ramos said in an 11 a.m. advisory. Residents in parts of Luzon are still reeling over the effects of "Basyang" (Conson). "Emphasis should be on proactive actions - evacuation rather than rescue ... Let us untiringly aim for zero casualties," he said. - KBK, GMANews.TV