MANILA – A typhoon has entered the Philippine area of responsibility Wednesday, but state weather bureau PAGASA does not expect for the weather disturbance to directly affect the country.

PAGASA said typhoon Dindo (international name ''Lionrock'') was spotted 1,200 kilometers east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes.

PAGASA weather division chief Esperanza Cayanan said Dindo will enhance the southwest monsoon (habagat) but will not hit Philippine landmass.

''It could enhance the southwest monsoon but so far we don't expect heavy monsoon rains triggered by this typhoon,'' Cayanan said.

PAGASA said moderate to heavy rains are expected within the typhoon's 500-km diameter. Dindo was packing maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 160 kph.

PAGASA is also monitoring two low pressure areas located west and east of the Philippines.

Cayanan said the LPA west of the Philippines was also enhancing the southwest monsoon, triggering rains over parts of northern Luzon, southern Luzon, and Visayas.