Tropical depression "Maring" has maintained its strength on Friday afternoon, Oct. 8, but may weaken and merge with another tropical depression currently outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) in the next few days, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

In its 5 p.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, PAGASA said Maring retained its maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph while moving erratically east-northeastward at 10 kph.

It estimated its location at 715 kilometers (km) east of Catarman, Northern Samar, or 640 km east-northeast of Borongan City, Eastern Samar at around 4 p.m.

In the next few hours, the trough of Maring may bring light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Caraga, Cebu, and Bohol.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains may also affect Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, and the rest of Visayas by Saturday, Oct. 9, as the "southwesterlies" enhanced by Maring begin to affect the central portion of the country, PAGASA said.

It advised affected residents to remain vigilant against possible isolated scattered flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides especially those in areas that are highly susceptible to these hazards.

Based on Maring's latest forecast scenario, PAGASA pointed out that the hoisting of tropical cyclone wind signals over any land area in the country is now unlikely.

The tropical depression is seen to continue to move erratically in the next 12 hours before moving generally north-northwestward over the Philippine Sea.

Moreover, Maring may slightly weaken in the next 24 hours before it could fizzle out into a remnant low by Sunday morning, Oct. 10, PAGASA said.

"Considering the trend of changes in the forecast scenario in previous bulletins, there is an increasing likelihood that after Maring weakens into an LPA (low pressure area), the disturbance will merge with the tropical cyclone outside the Philippine area of responsibility. Then, the merged system will move generally northwestward or west-northwestward towards extreme Northern Luzon," it explained.

In its 11 a.m. tropical cyclone advisory, PAGASA said the tropical depression outside the PAR may enter by Saturday and will be locally named "Nando."

PAGASA advised the public to continue monitoring these weather disturbances for possible changes in the track and intensity outlook.