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By Arlie O. Calalo
AT least 15 provinces in Luzon have been placed under Signal No. 1, including Isabela where Tropical Depression "Dodong" made its first landfall, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Friday.
Under storm alert are Cagayan, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, the northern portion of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, San Manuel, Sison, San Fabian, Pozorrubio, Bolinao, Bani, City of Alaminos, Sual, Labrador, Lingayen, Agno, Binmaley, Dagupan City, San Jacinto, Mangaldan and Anda), the northern and central portions of Aurora (Maria Aurora, San Luis, Baler, Dipaculao, Dinalungan, Casiguran and Dilasag) and Isabela.
Moving west-northwestward at 15 kilometers per hour (kph), Dodong has maximum sustained winds of 45kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55kph, the state-run weather agency said.
Forecast to cross the rugged landmass of Northern Luzon within the day, the tropical depression may initially track northwestward or north northwestward over Cagayan Valley for the next six hours before turning more west northwestward or westward and emerging over the waters west of Ilocos Region.
"Afterwards, Dodong will continue moving generally northwestward over the West Philippine Sea and leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Saturday or Sunday," Pagasa said in its 5 a.m. bulletin.
Dodong may reach tropical storm category by late Saturday or early Sunday as it moves out of the PAR, the state weather bureau said.
Meanwhile, the tropical depression and the enhanced southwest monsoon or "habagat' may bring moderate to rough seas over the eastern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon and the western seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon.
Pagasa has advised mariners of small sea craft to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea.
"If inexperienced or operating ill-equipped vessels, avoid navigating in these conditions," the bulletin said.
