Eastern Visayas airports remain operational amid ‘Wilma’
As of 10 a.m., the LPA was located in the vicinity of Cataingan, Masbate.
Photo courtesy of PNA
Airports across the Eastern Visayas region maintained normal operations Sunday despite the passage of tropical depression “Wilma,” which has since weakened into a low-pressure area (LPA), the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) reported.
CAAP confirmed that Calbayog Airport remains fully operational with no reported damage or power interruptions, though Philippine Airlines flight PR 26689/2669 (Cebu-Calbayog-Cebu) was canceled due to unfavorable weather conditions.
Catbalogan Airport also reported no damage and a normal power supply. As a precaution, wind cones and runway markers were temporarily removed, but no scheduled flights were canceled as of Sunday morning.
Tacloban Airport, on the other hand, is fully serviceable, with its terminal and airside facilities intact, and all 18 scheduled flights operating as normal. Maasin and Catarman Airports likewise reported no damage and unaffected operations.
Meanwhile, the state weather bureau announced Sunday that Wilma has weakened into a low-pressure area due to “unfavorable conditions.”
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Assistant Weather Services Chief Chris Perez said Wilma was downgraded to an LPA at 8 a.m. and merged with the shear line.
As of 10 a.m., the LPA was located in the vicinity of Cataingan, Masbate.
“Since the tropical depression Wilma is now an LPA, the wind signal has been lifted. But the shear line will continue to bring rains,” Perez said.
He warned that numerous floodings are likely, especially in urbanized, low-lying areas or those near rivers in Quezon province.
PAGASA’s 11 a.m. bulletin stated that the LPA will continue moving generally westward, or possibly west-southwestward, traversing the area of Southern Luzon and the Visayas through Monday.
“Once over the West Philippine Sea, redevelopment into a tropical depression is not ruled out,” the agency added.
Perez also cited that the northwest monsoon or amihan will continue to bring strong to gale-force gusts in most parts of Luzon, the Visayas and the Zamboanga Peninsula.