Motorized outriggers rest on the shore of a coastal village in Davao City. (Photo via Keith Bacongco)
“Shipping and fishing operations in all ports nationwide have resumed as of 4 p.m. today, May 14,” the PCG said in an advisory.
All stranded passengers, truck drivers, and cargo helpers were also allowed to travel by sea, it added.
The PCG said at least 264 passengers were stranded in various ports nationwide due to rough sea condition as Crising affected parts of the country.
In the latest advisory from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), wind signals have been lifted as Crising weakened into an LPA at 8 a.m. Friday.
(PIXABAY / FILE PHOTO)
In its severe weather bulletin issued at 8 a.m., PAGASA said Crising was over Marawi City, Lanao del Sur at around 7 a.m.
It has maintained its maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 75 kph while moving faster at 15 kph west-northwest.
Tropical cyclone wind signal number 1 was still up in the southeastern portion of Negros Oriental, Siquijor, western portion of Misamis Oriental, western portion of Bukidnon, northwestern portion of Cotabato, northern portion of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, northeastern portion of Zamboanga del Sur, and northeastern portion of Zamboanga del Norte.
Track of tropical storm ‘Crising’. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration)
A red alert status means that the NDRRMC’s regular duty personnel and operations service alert teams must remain on duty 24/7 to respond to any emergency or calamity.
In a situational report, NDRRMC Executive Director Ricardo Jalad said the National Operations Center (NDRRMC OpCen) had been continuously monitoring Crising’s location to ensure the dissemination of weather and general flood advisories to affected areas.
As of this posting, the NDRRMC has yet to receive any report of casualty or damage caused by Crising.
This notwithstanding, it said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has ensured that all transport logistics assets are ready for deployment for the distribution of relief assistance to the affected areas.
(PAGASA)
The LPA was over Piagapo, Lanao del Sur at around 10 a.m.
PAGASA said the weather disturbance will continue to move west or west-northwest before emerging over the Sulu Sea in the next six to 12 hours.
While tropical cyclone wind signal number 1 has been lifted, PAGASA said that light to moderate with at times heavy rains may persist over Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao City, Davao del Sur, Cotabato, Maguindanao, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and Misamis Occidental.
“Under these conditions, isolated to scattered flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides are possible during heavy or prolonged rainfall especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps,” PAGASA warned.
Scientists Confirm Sightings of Endangered Pygmy Blue Whale in Southern Philippine Waters For years, a group of researchers have been tracking a mysterious whale that they initially thought belonged to another blue whale subspecies.
This article originally appeared in Mongabay. Mavic Conde
May 14, 2021
A solitary whale frequently spotted in the Bohol Sea in the southern Philippines has long had a nickname: Bughaw, or “blue.” Now, thanks to recently published research, the whale also has a confirmed species and subspecies, knowledge that could shift understanding about the distribution of whale populations throughout the southern Pacific.
Bughaw, a pygmy blue whale, known to frequent the Bohol Sea. Until recently experts thought this species did not venture into Philippine waters. Image courtesy of Jo Marie Acebes