By: Reigh John Bench Almendras
Photo Courtesy: DOST_PAGASA
Super Typhoon Pepito International name: Man-yi is moving west-northwest over Juban, Sorsogon, and Virac, Catanduanes and slowed down from 25 kilometers per hour (km/h) to 20 km/h, the weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) stated Saturday, Nov. 16 in its 1 PM report.
In its 2 PM report, the weather bureau raised signal number 5 under the province of Catanduanes in the Bicol region and warned of a “potentially catastrophic and life-threatening situation.”
There is also a high risk of “life-threatening” storm surges “with peak heights exceeding 3 meters” in the Ilocos Region (western coast), Isabela, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Marinduque, Bicol, Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, and Biliran in the next 48 hours.
The following areas are also under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS):
Signal No. 5
Catanduanes
Signal No. 4
Northeastern part of Camarines Sur (Garchitorena, Caramoan, Presentacion, Siruma, Tinambac, Goa, Lagonoy, San Jose, Tigaon, Sagñay)
Northeastern part of Albay (Tabaco City, Tiwi, Malinao, Malilipot, Bacacay, Rapu-Rapu)
Signal No. 3
Polillo Islands
Southeastern part of mainland Quezon (Calauag, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Buenavista)
Camarines Norte
Rest of Camarines Sur
Rest of Albay
Northern part of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon City, Gubat, Barcelona, Castilla, Casiguran, Pilar, Donsol)
Eastern and central parts of Northern Samar (Palapag, Laoang, Mapanas, Gamay, Lapinig, Catubig, Pambujan, Las Navas, Biri, Bobon, Catarman, Mondragon, San Roque, Silvino Lobos, Lope de Vega, San Jose)
Northern part of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Arteche, Oras, Jipapad)
Signal No. 2
Southern part of Isabela (Dinapigue, Cordon, Ramon, Alicia, Cauayan City, Angadanan, Santiago City, San Isidro, Echague, Jones, San Agustin, San Guillermo, San Mariano, Benito Soliven, Naguilian, Palanan)
Quirino
Nueva Vizcaya
Eastern part of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, Umingan, Natividad, San Quintin, Tayug, Santa Maria, Rosales, Balungao, San Manuel, Villasis, Malasiqui, Bautista, Mapandan, Binalonan, Alcala, Asingan, Santo Tomas, Urdaneta City, Laoac, Manaoag, Bayambang, Santa Barbara)
Aurora
Nueva Ecija
Bulacan
Tarlac
Pampanga
southern part of Zambales (Botolan, Cabangan, San Marcelino, San Felipe, San Narciso, San Antonio, Castillejos, Subic, Olongapo City)
Bataan
Metro Manila
Rizal
Rest of Quezon
Laguna
Cavite
Marinduque
Burias Island
Ticao Island
Central part of Eastern Samar (Dolores, Maslog, Can-avid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, Borongan City)
Northern part of Samar (Matuguinao, Calbayog City, Santa Margarita, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan, Tarangnan, Motiong, Gandara, Jiabong, Catbalogan City, Paranas, Hinabangan, San Sebastian, Pagsanghan)
Rest of Northern Samar
Signal No. 1
Mainland Cagayan
Rest of Isabela
Apayao
Kalinga
Abra
Mountain Province
Ifugao
Benguet
Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Sur
La Union
Rest of Pangasinan
Rest of Zambales
Batangas
Northern part of Occidental Mindoro (Sablayan, Santa Cruz, Mamburao, Abra de Ilog, Paluan) including Lubang Islands
Northern part of Oriental Mindoro (Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Naujan, Baco, Victoria, Socorro, Pinamalayan, Bansud, Gloria, Pola, Calapan City, Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay)
Romblon
Rest of Masbate
Rest of Eastern Samar
Rest of Samar
Biliran
Northern and central parts of Leyte (Tunga, Pastrana, San Miguel, Matag-ob, Tolosa, Palo, Calubian, Leyte, Mayorga, Julita, Carigara, Babatngon, Dagami, Jaro, San Isidro, Santa Fe, Albuera, Villaba, La Paz, Palompon, MacArthur, Tabontabon, Tanauan, Merida, Ormoc City, Isabel, Dulag, Capoocan, Alangalang, Burauen, Tabango, Tacloban City, Kananga, Barugo, Abuyog, Javier, Baybay City, Mahaplag)
Northeastern part of Southern Leyte (Silago)
Northernmost part of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin) including Bantayan Islands
Northernmost part of Iloilo (Carles)
Northern part of Dinagat Islands (Loreto, Tubajon)
Over the weekend, Super Typhoon Pepito is expected to pass over or near Bicol, Central Luzon, Quezon, and southern portions of the Ilocos Region and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) before it reaches the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Monday.
Pepito is the country’s 16th tropical cyclone of 2024,the sixth one in less than a month and the third typhoon to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this week.
In response to the heightened storm signal over Metro Manila, the Manila City government canceled all classes tomorrow, Nov. 17 to all levels, both private and public.