Manila, Aug. 19 -- Tropical Depression Neneng slightly intensified as it moves northwestward over the sea east of Batanes, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Wednesday.

In a 5 a.m. advisory, the weather bureau said Neneng was located 675 km. east of Itbayat, Batanes, moving northwestward at 15 km. per hour (kph) with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph.

It may make landfall over the eastern coast of Taiwan between Thursday afternoon and Friday morning and its center will remain over the Philippine Sea throughout the forecast period.

Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon, or 'habagat' is forecast to dump up to 200 millimeters of rain i...