Weather: 'Ramon' continues moving away from PHL

After claiming nine lives, Tropical Depression Ramon (Banyan) continued to move away from Philippine territory Friday morning, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said. But PAGASA warned fishing boats and small sea vessels it is not yet safe to venture out to the West Philippine Sea, where they risk encountering big waves. "Fishing boats and other small sea vessels are advised not to venture out into the West Philippine Sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," PAGASA said in its 11 a.m. advisory. As of 10 a.m., PAGASA said Ramon was estimated at about 340 km west of Laoag City, packing maximum winds of 55 kph near the center. It said Ramon is forecast to move north northwest at 19 kph and is expected to be 670 km west northwest of Basco, Batanes by Saturday morning. Meanwhile, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center's 8 a.m. update indicated that Ramon may track across the northern South China Sea and move towards Vietnam. Earlier, PAGASA said it expects Ramon to exit Philippine territory Friday afternoon or evening, with the weather starting to improve by then. For his part, Science Undersecretary Graciano Yumul Jr. said they expect no cyclone to enter or form in Philippine territory until at least next week. "Makikita natin yan Miyerkules or Huwebes next week... Ang ating Sabado at Linggo improved weather sa Pilipinas. Ang ating kababayan pwede maglinis o mag-repair kung may nasalanta sa kanila," Yumul said in an interview on dwIZ radio earlier in the day. — RSJ, GMA News