The low-pressure area (LPA) northwest of Batanes has developed into Tropical Depression Ester over the weekend, becoming the country’s fifth tropical cyclone this year, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said. Pagasa said Ester formed at 3 a.m., prompting the raising of Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 over Batanes. READ: TD