The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Friday, April 16, issued the commencement of flood precaution period for river basins and watersheds in Luzon in anticipation of the possible rainfall due to typhoon "Bising" (international name: "Surigae").
PAGASA advised dam authorities that it has commenced the Flood Precaution Period of the Dam Discharge Warning Operation for Pantabangan Watershed, San Roque Watershed, Magat River Basin, and Angat River Basin because of a typhoon inside the country's area of responsibility.
The Flood Warning Operation (FWO) Form No. 1, which was signed by PAGASA-Hydro-Meteorology Division chief Roy Badilla, was disseminated to the concerned flood operation managers, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils, and chief meteorological officers of the four dams in Luzon.
"We request your organization to acknowledge the commencement of the Flood Precaution Period of the Dam Discharge Warning Operation immediately and to be ready to receive further information," the form read.
As of 3 p.m., PAGASA estimated the location of Bising at 895 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte.
It has maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph.
While the center of Bising may not hit land or make landfall, it could pass close enough to the eastern section to bring stormy conditions over some portions of Eastern Visayas and Bicol region by Sunday, April 18.