LPA becomes cyclone; 11 areas under Signal 1

At least 11 areas were under Storm Signal No. 1 Saturday as a low-pressure area (LPA) nearing the country intensified into a tropical depression Friday night. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the cyclone was codenamed "Bebeng" and was moving west-northwest at 13 kph. "Bicol region and Eastern Visayas will experience rains with gusty winds and with moderate to rough seas. The rest of Visayas and Quezon province in Luzon will have cloudy skies with scattered to widespread rains and thunderstorms which may trigger flashfloods and landslides," PAGASA said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. Also it said Mindanao and the rest of Southern Luzon will be mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of Luzon will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms. In its 5 a.m. Saturday update, PAGASA said "Bebeng" was 190 km east-northeast of Borongan, Eastern Samar as of 4 a.m. Areas placed under Signal No. 1 were:

• Camarines Sur
• Camarines Norte
• Albay
• Catanduanes
• Sorsogon
• Masbate
• Ticao Islands
• Burias Islands
• Leyte
• Samar Provinces
• Biliran Island

PAGASA said Bebeng packed maximum winds of 55 kph near the center. By Sunday morning it is expected to be 60 km east of Virac, Catanduanes; 140 km east-northeast of Baler town in Aurora Monday morning; and 110 km south-southeast of Vigan City in Ilocos Sur Tuesday morning. "Residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas under Signal 1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides," PAGASA said. It also advised the public and the disaster coordinating councils concerned to take appropriate actions. Meanwhile, moderate to strong winds winds blowing from the Northeast to Northwest will prevail over Southern Luzon and Visayas with moderate to rough seas. Winds will be light to moderate blowing from the West over Mindanao and coming from the East to Southeast elsewhere. The coastal waters along these areas will be slight to moderate. — LBG, GMA News