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'Ramon' heading for West Philippine Sea; 13 areas under signal 1


Tropical depression "Ramon" (Banyan) is now heading for the West Philippine Sea but may still bring rain to parts of the Philippines until at least Friday night, state weather forecasters said Thursday. At least 13 areas including Metro Manila remain under Storm Signal No. 1 as of 5 a.m. Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said. "'Ramon' is heading for the West Philippine Sea. It is moving away from the Philippines and if it does not change course or speed, we expect it to exit the Philippine area of responsibility Friday night," PAGASA forecaster Gener Quitlong said in an interview on dzBB radio. But he said the clouds around Ramon can still bring rain to Central Luzon, Southern Luzon and the Visayas, and even Palawan. He said that until Friday night, residents in Central and Southern Luzon, including Metro Manila, can expect moderate rain. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center indicated Ramon is heading northwest and may move towards Palawan and eventually change course, going north-northwest. PAGASA's 5 a.m. bulletin said "Ramon" further slowed down as it moves towards the West Philippine Sea. It said that as of 4 a.m., it was 80 km west-northwest of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, with maximum winds of 55 kph near the center. Also, it estimated Ramon may bring five to 25 mm per hour of rainfall (moderate to heavy) within its 300-km diameter. Ramon was forecast to move northwest at 11 kph and is expected to be 240 km west-southwest of Iba, Zambales Friday morning. By Saturday morning it is expected to be 580 km west-northwest of Iba, Zambales Under Storm Signal No. 1 are:

    - Marinduque - Mindoro Provinces - Lubang Island - Romblon - Southern Quezon - Northern Palawan - Calamian Group of Islands - Cavite - Laguna - Batangas - Bataan - Southern Zambales - Metro Manila
PAGASA reminded residents in low-lying and mountainous areas under Signal No. 1 to be alert against possible flash floods and landslides. "Central and Southern Luzon and Western Visayas will experience cloudy skies with scattered to widespread rain showers and thunderstorms which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. The rest of the country will be mostly cloudy with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms," PAGASA said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. Number coding Meanwhile, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on Thursday maintained the number coding scheme will not be lifted despite bad weather conditions from Ramon. Several netizens had inquired if the MMDA would lift the number coding as Metro Manila is one of at least 13 areas under Storm Signal No. 1 due to Ramon. "Number coding is implemented today," the MMDA said in its Twitter account. Under the number coding scheme, vehicles with license plates ending in 7 and 8 are barred from major thoroughfares in Metro Manila from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The MMDA had lifted the number coding last September 27, when Typhoon Pedring (Nesat) lashed Luzon. As of Thursday morning, several roads in Metro Manila were flooded due to rain from Wednesday night. — LBG, GMA News
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