Handout/PAGASA

MANILA (UPDATE) — A low pressure area off northern Luzon developed into tropical depression Igme on Friday afternoon, state weather bureau PAGASA said. 

In its 5 p.m. weather bulletin, PAGASA said Igme was last located 530 kilometers east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center, with gusts of up to 70 kph.

It is currently moving northwestward at 15 kph, and is expected to exit the Philippine ara of responsibility by Sunday.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is currently hoisted over Batanes.

Igme is unlikely to directly hit the Philippines and will instead head to Taiwan, PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja earlier said. 

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Meanwhile, the habagat will bring monsoon rains over Zambales and Bataan, and occasional rains over Ilocos region on Friday, the weather bureau said. 

Metro Manila, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, and the rest of Luzon will experience cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms. 

The rest of Visayas and Mindanao should expect partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms. 

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HABAGAT AND TRIPLE CYCLONES 

The habagat enhanced by tropical cyclones Ferdie, Gener, and Helen in recent days left at least 24 dead and 14 people missing, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said. 

The bad weather sent some 10,300 families or about 40,000 people to evacuation centers, the NDRRMC said. 

It said the habagat and the three cyclones damaged around 2,100 houses, with the damage to infrastructure pegged at around P22.5 million.  

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The weather systems also left some P600 million in losses in the agricultural sector, the Department of Agriculture said. 

"Karamihan ay naapektuhan sa Palawan, Mindoro Occidental, at saka sa Antique, sa Western Visayas at saka sa Zamboanga Peninsula. Almost P528 million ang damage ay sa rice sector,” DA spokesperson Asec Arnel De Mesa said in a televised briefing. 

He said the agency was ready to assist affected farmers.

“Meron tayong Quick Response Funds, at saka naka-preposition din ang binhi ng palay, mais, at saka mga gulay, once ready na silang magtanim, pwede silang magtanim for quick turnaround,” De Mesa said. 

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-- With a report from Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News