'Neneng' won't hit PH, but habagat rains may last until end of August — PAGASA

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Depression Neneng will not make landfall in the Philippines and is headed toward Taiwan, according to PAGASA, but rains from the southwest monsoon (habagat) will likely continue until the end of August. 

PAGASA weather specialist Loriedin Galicia said Neneng is moving generally northwestward toward the eastern side of Taiwan.

"It will most likely make landfall on the Taiwan landmass," Galicia said in an interview with GMA's Unang Balita on Wednesday morning, August 19. 

She added that the chance of Neneng approaching close to Batanes is now low. 

As of 4 a.m. Wednesday, Neneng was 675 kilometers east of Itbayat, Batanes. It had winds of 55 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 70 kph, stronger than when it formed Tuesday afternoon. 

PAGASA expects it to reach Taiwan's eastern coast between Thursday afternoon and Friday morning, then weaken. 

No tropical cyclone wind signals have been raised.

Galicia said that the downpours causing floods in Luzon are from the southwest monsoon and not from Neneng directly. The storm's position, however, is pulling in and strengthening monsoon winds.

"Yung habagat po natin, nati-trigger po talaga ito ng mga weather systems na nasa paligid ng ating PAR," she said.

3 storms

PAGASA is tracking three tropical depressions in all: Neneng inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), and two others outside PAR.

One tropical depression west of Luzon is moving away from the country and is unlikely to enter PAR. 

The other, far out in the Pacific east of Mindanao, could enter PAR by Monday or Tuesday next week, Galicia said, though current projections show it merely skirting the edge of the boundary before exiting.

"The chance of landfall is low right now, but again, it will enhance the habagat," Galicia said. 

No monsoon break in sight

With several weather systems pulling on the habagat, PAGASA does not expect a break from the monsoon rains for the rest of August.

"Sa ating pagtaya po, hanggang end of the month, most likely meron talaga po tayong active habagat," Galicia said.

 In the next 24 hours, PAGASA expects 100 to 200 millimeters of rain over Zambales, Bataan and Occidental Mindoro. 

Another 50 to 100 millimeters of rain may fall over Metro Manila, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Benguet, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Laguna, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas and Oriental Mindoro. 

Malacañang has ordered schools in Metro Manila and 17 provinces to shift to alternative learning modes on Wednesday. Government offices in the same areas have been allowed to use alternative work arrangements.

The monsoon and this month's earlier storms, Luis and Maymay, have killed at least 26 people, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said. Damage to infrastructure has reached about P3.1 billion.