Signal number 2 up over 4 provinces; NDRRMC on alert

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal (TCWS) number 2 remains hoisted over four provinces as of Friday afternoon while TCWS number 1 is up over eight other parts of the country as tropical storm Odette maintained its strength and crosses Apayao Friday morning.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) placed Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan group of islands, Apayao and Ilocos Norte under TCWS number 2.

Isabela, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Benguet meanwhile remains under TCWS number 1.

In its weather bulletin, PAGASA said the eye of Odette was located in the vicinity of Calanasan, Apayao at 7 a.m.

With this condition, rainfall is expected to be moderate to heavy within Odette's 400-kilometer diameter.

The tropical storm has maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 120 kph as it is expected to move west southwest at 24 kph.

PAGASA warned that travel by sea is risky over the seaboards of Northern Luzon.

NDRRMC advisory Meantime, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Operations Center is currently on ‘blue alert’ status as ‘Odette’ hovers over Northern Luzon.

NDRRMC spokesperson Romina Marasigan said the public is advised to stay alert, continue monitoring weather updates and advisories via television, radio and social media, and heed the advice of their local officials.

"Everyone is strongly encouraged to stay at home and postpone any leisure and tourist activities especially in Northern Luzon until the tropical depression has ceased," Marasigan said.