The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday advised farmers and fisherfolk to harvest matured crops and secure fishing vessels to higher ground.
The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA) advised that a low-pressure area east of Eastern Visayas has developed into Tropical Depression (TD) “Chedeng.”
The DA also said that “farmers should utilize post-harvest facilities; secure seed reserves, planting materials and other farm inputs, as well as feed and water for livestock; relocate animals, farm machineries, and equipment to higher ground; and clear drainage in irrigation and rice paddies from obstructions to prevent flooding.”
Moreover, the fisherfolk are advised to: perform early harvest and mobilize post-harvest equipment and facilities; secure fishing vessels to higher ground; and avoid sea travel as potentially rough conditions prevail over affected seaboards, the DA said.
Based on the latest bulletin of Pagasa, the center of Chedeng was estimated based on all available data at 1,170 kilometers east of Southeastern Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness up to 55 km/h. Moreover, Pagasa said that it is moving at an almost stationary speed.
The depression is forecast to remain far from any land mass and is unlikely to bring heavy rainfall over any portion of the country in the next three to five days, the agency said.
However, the current forecast scenario for Chedeng might result in the enhancement of the southwest monsoon.