MANILA, Philippines – Basyang (Penha) weakened from a tropical storm into a tropical depression while approaching Bohol on Friday morning, February 6, although it is still causing moderate to intense rain in two dozen provinces.

In a briefing past 11 am on Friday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Basyang’s maximum sustained winds are down to 55 kilometers per hour from the previous 65 km/h. Its gustiness also eased from 90 km/h to 70 km/h.

The tropical depression was located over the coastal waters of Anda, Bohol, as of 10 am. It slowed down, moving west northwest at 10 km/h from 20 km/h.

Basyang made its first landfall in Bayabas, Surigao del Sur, at 11:50 pm on Thursday, February 5, then crossed other parts of the Caraga region before emerging over the Bohol Sea.

PAGASA said Basyang is still expected to pass close to or make landfall in Bohol, Cebu, and Negros Oriental, then pass close to Panay Island, from Friday to Saturday, February 7.

The tropical depression might further weaken into a low pressure area on Saturday afternoon or evening, too — earlier than originally predicted.

Basyang is no longer likely to trigger torrential rain in the next 48 hours. But 24 provinces may still have moderate to intense rain from the tropical depression, especially the next ones in Basyang’s path. Floods and landslides remain possible.

Friday noon, February 6, to Saturday noon, February 7

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 millimeters): Palawan, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Southern Leyte, Leyte, Aklan, Capiz, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Norte

Saturday noon, February 7, to Sunday noon, February 8

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Palawan

During the weekend, the shear line will also trigger rain for these provinces in Luzon:

Saturday noon, February 7, to Sunday noon, February 8

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Camarines Norte

Sunday noon, February 8, to Monday noon, February 9

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Camarines Norte

Since Basyang was downgraded to a tropical depression, there are no more places under Signal No. 2 as of 11 am on Friday. But Signal No. 1 is still in effect for these areas:

• southern part of Occidental Mindoro (San Jose, Magsaysay, Rizal, Calintaan, Sablayan)
• southern part of Oriental Mindoro (Mansalay, Bulalacao, Gloria, Pinamalayan, Bansud, Bongabong, Roxas)
• Romblon
• northern part of Palawan (Taytay, El Nido, Dumaran, Araceli, Roxas, San Vicente) including Cuyo Islands, Cagayancillo Islands, and Calamian Islands
• southern part of Masbate (Balud, Mandaon, Milagros, Esperanza, Placer, Cawayan)
• southern part of Eastern Samar (Guiuan, Salcedo, Mercedes, Giporlos, Balangiga, Lawaan, Quinapondan, General MacArthur, Hernani, Llorente, Balangkayan, Borongan City, Maydolong)
• southern part of Samar (Marabut, Basey, Santa Rita, Daram, Talalora, Zumarraga, Villareal, Pinabacdao, Calbiga)
• Guimaras
• Iloilo
• Capiz
• Antique
• Aklan
• Biliran
• Bohol
• Cebu
• Negros Occidental
• Negros Oriental
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• Siquijor
• Dinagat Islands
• Surigao del Norte including Siargao-Bucas Grande Islands
• Agusan del Norte
• Misamis Oriental
• Camiguin
• northern part of Surigao del Sur (Lianga, San Agustin, Marihatag, Cagwait, Bayabas, Cantilan, Carrascal, San Miguel, Tago, Cortes, Tandag City, Lanuza, Carmen, Madrid, Barobo)
• northern and central parts of Agusan del Sur (San Francisco, La Paz, Talacogon, San Luis, Prosperidad, Sibagat, Bayugan City, Esperanza)
• northern and central parts of Bukidnon (Lantapan, Talakag, Cabanglasan, Malaybalay City, Libona, Manolo Fortich, Malitbog, Impasug-ong, Sumilao, Baungon, Valencia City)
• eastern part of Lanao del Norte (Iligan City, Pantar, Baloi, Tagoloan, Matungao, Linamon, Kauswagan, Pantao Ragat, Poona Piagapo)
• northern part of Misamis Occidental
• northernmost part of Lanao del Sur (Tagoloan II, Kapai, Saguiaran, Marawi City)
• eastern part of Zamboanga del Norte (Rizal, Sibutad, La Libertad, Dapitan City, Dipolog City, Mutia, Piñan, Polanco, Katipunan)

The surge of the northeast monsoon or amihan is also bringing strong to gale-force gusts to the following areas:

Friday, February 6

• Batanes, Babuyan Islands, northern part of mainland Cagayan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Bicol, most of Mimaropa, Visayas, Dinagat Islands, Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga Peninsula, Sarangani, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental

Saturday, February 7

• most of Luzon, Western Visayas, most of Negros Island Region, Zamboanga del Norte

Sunday, February 8

• most of Luzon

In addition, there is still a minimal to moderate risk of storm surges with peak heights of up to 2 meters in Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Cuyo Islands, Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Cebu, Bohol, Southern Leyte, Leyte, Camiguin, Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, and Misamis Occidental within 48 hours.

In affected seaboards, conditions are beginning to improve a bit, but small vessels should still heed warnings and avoid travel.

Up to rough seas (small vessels should not venture out to sea)

• Seaboards of Northern Samar, Agusan del Norte, Camiguin, Siquijor, Misamis Oriental, and Misamis Occidental; eastern seaboards of Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Eastern Samar, Dinagat Islands, and Siargao-Bucas Grande Islands; northern seaboard of Lanao del Norte; southern seaboards of Southern Leyte, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Negros Occidental – waves up to 4 meters high
• Northern seaboards of Camarines Sur and Catanduanes; northern seaboard of Zamboanga del Norte; southern seaboards of Antique, Iloilo, and Guimaras; remaining seaboards of Bohol and Lanao del Norte – waves up to 3.5 meters high
• Seaboards of Aurora and northern Quezon; northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands; northern seaboard of Camarines Norte – waves up to 3 meters high

Up to moderate seas (small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible)

• Seaboards of Isabela and Leyte; eastern seaboard of mainland Cagayan; remaining seaboards of Southern Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Zamboanga del Norte – waves up to 2.5 meters high
• Seaboards of Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Cuyo Islands, Cagayancillo Islands, and Sarangani; western seaboard of Zamboanga del Norte; northern and western seaboards of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi; southern seaboards of Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro; remaining seaboards of Quezon, Bicol, and Western Visayas – waves up to 2 meters high

Basyang is the Philippines’ second tropical cyclone for 2026, after Tropical Storm Ada (Nokaen) in January. PAGASA previously estimated there would be up to one tropical cyclone in February. – Rappler.com