MORE Luzon areas have been placed under Signal No. 1 as Tropical Depression 'Amang' continues to intensify toward the Bicol Region, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Tuesday.In a press conference, Pagasa's weather services assistant chief Chris Mendez said that Signal No. 1 is up over Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Quezon (Pitogo, San Andres, Buenavista, San Francisco, Calauag, Infanta, Lopez, Catanauan, Mulanay, Guinayangan, Unisan, General Luna, Plaridel, Quezon, Alabat, Sampaloc, Padre Burgos, Macalelon, Mauban, General Nakar, Perez, Agdangan, Gumaca, Atimonan, Real, San Narciso, Tagkawayan, Pagbilao and City of Tayabas) including Polillo Islands, Marinduque and Masbate including Ticao Island, and Burias Island in Luzon.In the Visayas, the same storm alert was raised over Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar and Biliran, the Pagasa official said.Perez added that Signal No. 1 might be hoisted in other localities in the Eastern Visayas and Bicol Region in succeeding bulletins.Pagasa Administrator Vicente Malano said on Tuesday that the eye of the tropical depression was estimated some 130 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes.Moving westward at the speed of 30 kilometers per hour (kph), Amang has maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph, according to Malano.For the next 24 hours, Amang will likely track generally westward or west northwestward toward the Bicol Region before turning west northwestward or northwestward for the remainder of the forecast period, the Pagasa officials said.'While the current track forecast shows that the tropical depression will remain offshore over the waters east of Luzon for the next three days, the forecast confidence cone shows that a landfall scenario over the Bicol Peninsula area is not ruled out, especially for the next 36 hours,' Perez said.Malano said there is a possibility for Amang to weaken into a low pressure area by late Thursday or early Friday but it may remain as a tropical depression throughout the forecast period.The state weather bureau said that under the influence of the tropical depression, a marine gale warning is in effect over the eastern seaboards of Catanduanes and Eastern Samar and the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Samar.'Within 24 hours, moderate to rough seas will be likely over the eastern seaboards of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon and Eastern Visayas that are not under any gale warning,' Malano said.'Mariners of small seacrafts are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions,' the Pagasa chief added.
