Ito na naman! Palawan braces for tropical depression Agaton

Palawan – yet to recover from the wrath of twin storms last month – is now bracing for another one as Tropical Depression Agaton moves closer to the province.

The Palawan Provincial Government has asked its residents to be prepared as the tropical depression will bring heavy rains that may cause flooding and landslide.

“Pinag-iingat ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ng Palawan at Provincial Disaster Risks Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) ang mga residente partikular sa mga munisipyo ng Cuyo at Magsaysay maging ang mga nasa Mainland Palawan sa posibleng pinsalang dulot ng bagyong Agaton sa lalawigan,” the province said.

In the latest weather bulletin as of 5:00 pm, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that Tropical Depression Agaton “has “maintained its strength as it moves closer to Palawan”

“Agaton is expected to make landfall over Palawan tonight,” the weather bulletin read.

“Ang bagyong Agaton ay huling namataan sa katimugang bahagi ng Negros Oriental at kumikilos sa direksyong pakanluran. Taglay nito ang lakas ng hangin na umaabot sa 55 kph at bugsong aabot sa 65 kph. Ito ay magdadala ng malakas na pag-ulan na maaaring maging sanhi ng pagbaha at pagguho ng lupa. Ang paglalayag sa karagatan ay mapanganib,” the province said.

“Kaugnay nito ngayong araw ay nagsagawa ang Provincial Disaster Risks Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) ng lalawigan ng Palawan ng isang pagpupulong upang paghandaan at magsagawa ng pagpaplano patungkol pa rin sa pananalasa ng naturang bagyong Agaton,” it added.

Tropical cyclone warning signal no. 1 has been raised in Palawan including Cuyo Island.

“Inaasahang lalabas sa Philippine Area of Responsibility ang bagyong Agaton bukas ng hapon o sa Huwebes ng umaga,” the province said.

Southern municipalities in Palawan were earlier declared under state of calamity due to tropical storms Vinta and Urduja that affected the province last month.