Pepeng' slows down, storm warning up in Metro Manila

Typhoon 'Pepeng,' which was earlier seen to pack winds of a super typhoon, has slowed down Friday afternoon as it nears the Aurora-Isabela area in northern Luzon, the state weather bureau said.
As of 5 pm, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) noted that 'Pepeng' is forecast to move West Northwest at 13 kph from 19 kph early Friday.

A separate data from the US-based Naval Research Laboratory Monterey Marine Meteorology Division, noted that 'Pepeng's wind speed has reached 222 kph Friday morning, which places it in the super typhoon category.

A super typhoon is defined as a more intense tropical cyclone with maximum wind speed exceeding 220 kph.

But the US Navy meteorologists later said that the wind speed would slow down to 204 kph on Saturday morning.

Pagasa located "Pepeng" at 150 km North Northeast of Virac, Catanduanes with maximum sustained winds of 195 kph and gustiness of up to 230 kph, the Pagasa added.

A total of 39 areas, including Metro Manila, have storm signal warnings. Pepeng is expected to make landfall on Saturday afternoon at the Aurora-Isabela area.

Pagasa spokesperson Nathaniel Cruz said stormy weather could be expected over Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Quezon and Bicol on Friday evening to early Saturday.

Meanwhile, occasional rains would be experienced in the rest of Luzon and Visayas.

Malacañang had earlier placed the entire country under a state of national calamity in preparation for the expected onslaught of the incoming typhoon.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the decision was arrived at with the concurrence of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC).

Remonde said the government decided to declare a state of calamity "so that all government officials could already use or be prepared for the five percent calamity fund." Local governments are required by law to set aside five percent of their annual budgets for calamities.

"Second [reason], para mas epektibo ang implementasyon ng price control of basic commodities (This will alo allow for the effective implementation of price control of basic price commodity)," Remonde added.

Last week tropical storm 'Ondoy' unleashed record-level rainfall in Luzon, including Metro Manila, causing massive floods and damage to property. The NDCC pegged the death toll at 293, but this figure is expected to rise as more bodies are found in areas still submerged in water.

AREAS WITH STORM SIGNALS DUE TO 'PEPENG'

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(Data from Pagasa as of 5 p.m. Oct. 2 weather bulletin)

AREAS UNDERSTORM SIGNAL NO. 3
LUZON
Catanduanes

AREAS UNDER STORM SIGNAL NO. 2
LUZON
Cagayan
Isabela
Aurora
Quirino
Northern Quezon
Polilio Islands
Camarines Norte
Camarines Sur

AREAS UNDERSTORM SIGNAL NO. 1
LUZON
Metro Manila
Calayan Group of Islands
Babuyan Group of Islands
Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Sur
Apayao
Abra
Kalinga
Mt. Province
Ifugao
Nueva Viscaya
Benguet
La Union
Pangasinan
Tarlac
Nueva Ecija
Zambales
Bataan
Pampanga
Bulacan
Laguna
Batangas
Cavite
Rizal
Rest of Quezon
Marinduque
Albay
Burias Islands
Sorsogon

VISAYAS
Northern Samar