Kristine continues to cross the Cordillera Administrative Region

SEVERE tropical storm Kristine (internationally known as Trami) continues to traverse the Cordillera Administrative Region, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Thursday.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, the state weather bureau reported that severe tropical storm Kristine is located in the vicinity if Bauko, Mountain Province, with maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center and gustiness of up to 160 km/h.

It is moving west southwestward at 20 km/h.

PAGASA forecasted severe tropical storm Kristine to leave Luzon and emerge over the waters west of Ilocos Region this afternoon.

It is expected to move west northwestward over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday afternoon.

While severe tropical storm Kristine continues to wreak havoc in the country, the state bureau earlier reported that it has spotted another low pressure area (LPA) outside PAR, which has a “high chance” of developing into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours.

TCWS in effect

Meanwhile, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 is still in effect over the following areas in Luzon, where winds of 89 to 117 km/h are expected within the next 18 hours:

– Mountain Province

– Ifugao, Benguet

– The northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Bayombong, Ambaguio, Bagabag, Villaverde, Kayapa, Bambang, Diadi, Quezon, Solano, Santa Fe, Aritao)

– The southern portion of Ilocos Sur (Cervantes, Quirino, Sigay, Suyo, Alilem, Sugpon, Tagudin, Santa Cruz, Salcedo, Gregorio del Pilar, San Emilio, Lidlidda, Burgos, San Esteban, Santiago, Banayoyo, Galimuyod, City of Candon, Santa Lucia, Nagbukel, Santa Maria, Narvacan)

– La Union

– Pangasinan

The following areas in Luzon are placed under Signal No. 2, which will experience winds of 62 to 88 km/h in the next 24 hours:

– Cagayan including Babuyan Islands

– Isabela

– Quirino

– The rest of Nueva Vizcaya

– Apayao

– Kalinga

– Abra

– Ilocos Norte

– The rest of Ilocos Sur

– Nueva Ecija

– Aurora

– Bulacan

– Tarlac

– Pampanga

– Zambales

– Bataan

– Metro Manila

– Rizal

– Cavite

– The western portion of Batangas (Lian, Nasugbu, Tuy, Calatagan, Balayan)

– The northern portion of Laguna (Cabuyao City, City of Santa Rosa, City of Bisan, City of San Pedro, Pakil, Mabitac, Pangil, Santa Maria, Siniloan, Famy)

Signal No. 1 is raised over these areas and will experience winds of 39 to 61 km/h in the next 36 hours:

Luzon:

– Batanes

– The rest of Batangas

– The rest of Quezon

– The rest of Occidental Mindoro

– Oriental Mindoro

– Marinduque

– Romblon

– The northern portion of mainland Palawan (El Nido, Taytay, Araceli, San Vicente, Dumaran, Roxas) including Calamian Islands, Cuyo, and Kalayaan Islands

– Camarines Norte

– Camarines Sur

– Catanduanes

– Albay

– Sorsogon

– Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands

Visayas:

– Aklan

– Capiz

– Antique including Caluya Islands

– Iloilo

– Bantayan Islands

– Northern Samar

– The northern portion of Samar (Calbayog City, Santo Nino, Almagro, Tagapul-An, San Jorge, Matuguinao, Jiabong, Pagsanghan, City of Catbalogan, Gandara, Motiong, San Jose de Buan, Santa Margarita, Tarangnan, Daram, Zumarraga)

– Biliran

– The northern portion of Eastern Samar (Maslog, Jipapad, Arteche, Oras, San Policarpo)

– The northwestern portion of Leyte (Calubian, San Isidro)

Calls for help

Meanwhile, several Filipinos are appealing for help for the individuals who are affected by severe tropical storm Kristine, and among them are beauty queens CJ Opiaza and Ahtisa Manalo.

Opiaza, who is currently competing at the Miss Grand International competition, offered prayers and appealed for donations for the typhoon victims.

“There are specific Philippine NGOs [non-government organizations] and charitable institutions who [are] calling for donations for the victims of the typhoon. Kindly tap these organizations to volunteer or donate,” the Gen Z beauty queen said in an Instagram post.

Manalo, who finished in the Top 10 of the Miss Cosmo 2024 pageant, said on her Broadcast channel that it was “heartbreaking” for her to see the damage caused by severe tropical storm Kristine in Bicol.

She also warned the public of a fake Telegram account pretending to be her to “steal from people during a calamity.”

“If contacted, kindly report the account and please do not entertain it to avoid scams and misinformation of any kind,” Manalo said.