Signal No. 1 in 11 areas as Verbena nears Cuyo Islands

Signal No. 1 was hoisted over 11 areas in Luzon and Visayas as Tropical Depression Verbena moved closer to Cuyo Islands Tuesday afternoon, the state weather bureau PAGASA said.

In its 2 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said strong winds with minimal to minor threat to life and property are possible over the following areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1:

Luzon

• Occidental Mindoro
• Oriental Mindoro
• Romblon
• the northern and central portions of Palawan (Araceli, Taytay, El Nido, Dumaran, Roxas, San Vicente, Puerto Princesa City) including Calamian, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo Islands
• mainland Masbate (Balud, Mandaon, Milagros, Cawayan, Placer, Pio V. Corpuz, Esperanza, Uson, Dimasalang, City of Masbate, Mobo, Palanas, Aroroy, Cataingan, Baleno)

Visayas

• Antique
• Aklan
• Capiz
• Iloilo
• Guimaras
• the western portion of Negros Occidental (City of Himamaylan, Binalbagan, Isabela, Hinigaran, Pontevedra, La Carlota City, Moises Padilla, La Castellana, Valladolid, San Enrique, Bago City, Pulupandan, Bacolod City, City of Talisay, Silay City, Enrique B. Magalona, City of Victorias, Manapla, Murcia, Ilog, City of Kabankalan, Cauayan, City of Sipalay, Candoni, Hinoba-An)

PAGASA said Verbena was last spotted over the coastal waters of Magsaysay, Palawan, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center and gustiness of up to 70 km/h.

Verbena was moving westward at 35 km/h.

“Verbena will move west northwestward over Sulu Sea, pass near or over Cuyo Islands this afternoon before making landfall over the northern portion of Palawan tonight,” PAGASA said.

The tropical depression will exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility early Thursday morning.

“Verbena may reach tropical storm category near the northern portion of Palawan within the next 12 hours. Further intensification is likely once Verbena reaches the West Philippine Sea. It may reach its peak intensity on late Thursday or early Friday (November 28),” PAGASA said.

Classes, sea trips

Classes for Tuesday, November 25, 2025, were suspended in some areas due to inclement weather from Tropical Depression Verbena.

Trips in 17 seaports were also canceled on Tuesday due to Verbena.

Meanwhile, more than 5,500 people were stranded at different seaports across the country as Verbena may cause bad sea condition early Tuesday morning, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. 

In an update, the PCG said 5,576 passengers, truck drivers, and cargo helpers have been stranded at 82 seaports from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. 

Also stranded were 1,936 rolling cargoes, 121 vessels, and 26 motorbancas, according to the PCG. 

Due to the threat of Verbena, a total of 141 vessels and 52 motorbancas were taking shelter. — VBL, GMA Integrated News