By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Parts of Negros Occidental may experience rain showers after the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported the low pressure area they have been monitoring west of the Philippines formed into a tropical depression (TD).

Based on data released by PAGASA, at 4:00 p.m. yesterday, TD Salome was last spotted 65 kilometers southwest of Pili, Camarines Sur.

The storm has maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, with gusts reaching 90 kph.

Salome is moving west northwest at 25 kph and is expected to exit the country through the West Philippine Sea on Saturday afternoon.

PAGASA also declared 19 areas in Luzon under Storm Signal No.1, although no storm signal was raised over the Visayas.

However, PAGASA stated the storm could still generate rains in the Visayas.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), meanwhile, reported all trips heading to Iloilo are still running normal as there is currently no gale warning raised over the Negros and Panay islands.

However, as of press time, ships heading to Manila are temporarily barred from leaving port. Trips will resume once the storm signal is lifted./DGB, WDJ