A low-pressure area over the Philippine sea east of Mindanao developed into a tropical depression called “Ambo” at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
It was the first weather disturbance to enter the Philippines in 2020.
The center of the tropical depression was estimated 545 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, as of 4 p.m. on Sunday.
“Ambo” was moving west-northwest at 15 kilometers per hour and packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said “Ambo” was expected to bring scattered light to moderate and up to isolated heavy rain over the Caraga region, Davao, SOCSKSARGEN and Maguindanao.
“Residents in these areas are advised to continue monitoring for updates, especially the local rainfall or thunderstorm advisories and heavy rainfall warnings of the Pagasa regional services division,” the weather bureau said in its 5 p.m. bulletin.
Meanwhile, an official said Sunday the people and government officials should not panic if a strong storm enters the country during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman said due to the physical distancing rule, those affected by the floods and landslides brought by a typhoon “cannot be packed into evacuation centers like before.”
“A typhoon on top of a pandemic is one that we pray will not happen, but we nonetheless should prepare for it,” said Hataman who represents Basilan.
“We should plan, prepare the responders and stockpile relief goods based on the worst-case scenario.”
At dawn on Sunday, a magnitude 5.4 earthquake jolted Occidental Mindoro while affecting parts of Luzon including Metro Manila.
The quake was of tectonic origin was estimated to have hit 22 kilometers north of Lubang.
Intensity 5 was felt in Lubang while intensity 4 was recorded in Batangas’ Lemery and Taal; Cavite’s General Trias and Imus City; Bulacan’s Obando and the National Capital Region’s cities of Makati, Manila, Navotas, Las Piñas and Parañaque.
Intensity 3 was felt in Occidental Mindoro’s Looc and Mamburao; Batangas’ Calatagan and Lipa City; Metro Manila’s Malabon, Mandaluyong, Pasay, Quezon City, Marikina, Pasig, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela and Taguig as well well as the municipality of Pateros; Cavite’s Tagaytay City, Bacoor City and Dasmariñas City; Bulacan’s Meycauayan and San Jose del Monte and Pampanga’s Lubao.
Metro Manila’s San Juan and Caloocan had intensity 2 as well as Nueva Ecija’s Gapan City, Palayan City and Cabanatuan City; Aurora’s Baler and Pangasinan’s Alaminos City, Intensity 1 was recorded in Nueva Ecija’s San Jose City, the Science City of Muñoz and Quezon’s Guinayangan.
The weather bureau said there was no reported damage to property.
