TACLOBAN CITY-The state weather bureau has placed Eastern Visayas under flood watch yesterday and identified at least 20 rivers and streams in the region that are “likely to be affected” with frequent rainfall.
In it’s website, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) listed some “watercourses” in four provinces of the region that might rise to alarming level.
Particular rivers and streams that are in the watch list are Catarman, Bugko, Pambujan, Catubig and Palapag in Northern Samar; Oras, Dolores, Ulot and Taft in Eastern Samar; Basey, Calbiga and Silaga in Samar; Palo, Sangputan, Daguitan, Marabong, Cadacan, Salug, Pagbangaran and Pagsungahan in Leyte.
“People living near the mountain slopes of the abovementioned places are advised to be alert for possible occurrence of flashfloods and landslides. Likewise people living near or along the rivercourse and those in low-lying areas in the said river systems are advised to be alert for possible flooding,” the flood advisory said.
During the first two days of 2009, the state weather bureau recorded an observed rainfall of 169.9 milimetre (mm) in Borongan, Eastern Samar; 36.0 mm in this city; 32.2 mm in Guiuan, Eastern Samar; 30.8 mm in Catarman, Northern Samar; and 23.0 mm in Catbalogan, Samar.
PAGASA officials projects light to moderate rainfall in the next 24 hours brought by low pressure area. Other than Region 8, the state weather bureau also placed Northern Mindanao and Caraga region under flood watch.
As of yesterday morning, a Low Pressure Area (LPA) was estimated based on satellite and surface data at 420 kms East Northeast of Northern Mindanao. Tail-end of a cold front affecting Eastern Luzon.
The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) alerted the local disaster coordinating councils to be vigilant these holiday seasons.
“We gave copies of weather forecast to local government units that would serve as guide in their disaster preparedness,” said OCD regional director Angel Gaviola in a telephone interview earlier.
Recalling what happened in Samar Island earlier, Gaviola said that it’s possible that some areas will experience flooding even if it’s only a low-pressure area. The OCD has not yer received official flooding reports from local government officials.
Meanwhile, in an astronomical diary for January 2009, PAGASA said that on January 7 at around 6:00 PM, a grand conjunction of planets will be observed in the west southwestern horizon.
Venus, Jupiter and Mercury are the brightest naked eye planets in our sky shining at magnitudes -4.2, -0.4 and -1.9, respectively, while Neptune and Uranus will be found at 30 and 58 degrees above the horizon shining at magnitudes +7.9 and +5.7, respectively.
Neptune will be located among the background stars of the constellation Capricornus, the Sea-Goat, while Uranus will be located among the background stars of the constellation Aquarius. Mars will be difficult to observe due to its proximity to the Sun.
On January 8, at around 12:15 a.m., the Ringed Planet, Saturn will shine at magnitude +0.8. It will be located among the background stars of the constellation Leo, the Lion. The planet will be standing 29 degrees from the eastern horizon. By using a modest size telescope, it will reveal a diameter of 18.68 arc of a second. (Sarwell Q. Meniano)
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