Signal No. 1 still up in Luzon, Visayas as Ramil keeps strength moving west 

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is still hoisted in various areas in Luzon and in the Visayas as Tropical Depression Ramil maintained its strength while moving west southwestward over the Philippine Sea, the state weather bureau PAGASA said. 

According to the 8 p.m. weather bulletin, the following areas are under Signal No. 1: 

Luzon 

• Isabela
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• the eastern portion of Mountain Province (Paracelis, Natonin, Barlig)
• Ifugao
• the eastern portion of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, Natividad, Umingan, Tayug, San Quintin, Santa Maria, Balungao, Rosales)
• Aurora
• Nueva Ecija
• the eastern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, Norzagaray, San Miguel, San Ildefonso)
• the northern and eastern portions of Quezon (Tagkawayan, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Unisan, Gumaca, Plaridel, Agdangan, Pagbilao, Mauban, Calauag, Guinayangan, Lopez, Pitogo, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, San Narciso, Buenavista, San Francisco, San Andres, Mulanay, General Nakar, Infanta, Real, Sampaloc) including Polillo Islands
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Catanduanes
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Burias Island
• Ticao Island
   

Visayas 

• Northern Samar
• the northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Arteche, Oras, Dolores, Maslog, Jipapad, Taft, Can-Avid)
• the northern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, Calbayog City, Gandara, Santa Margarita, Pagsanghan, San Jorge)4

PAGASA said that the center of the tropical depression was last monitored at 450 kilometers east northeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar. It packed maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kilometers per hour. 

State meteorologists said that Ramil will continue to intensify while over the Philippine Sea and may reach tropical storm category within the next 12 hours. 

PAGASA added that the center of Ramil may make landfall over Catanduanes on Saturday afternoon, October 18. 

It will then turn west northwestward as it passes close to or over the mainland Bicol region on Saturday evening.  Ramil will continue to move west and may make landfall over Aurora or Quezon on Sunday morning, October 19, said PAGASA. 

Ramil is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Monday morning or afternoon of October 20.—LDF, GMA Integrated News