'Pepito' still threatens Bicol; 54 flights canceled on Sunday

MANILA – Super Typhoon Pepito (international name Man-yi) continues to threaten the northeastern Bicol Region, the weather bureau said in a 5 p.m. bulletin on Saturday.

The cyclone packs maximum sustained winds of 195 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 240 kph.

It was located 120 km east of Virac, Catanduanes as of 4 p.m., and is moving west northwestward at 20 kph.

Catanduanes and the northeastern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Garchitorena, Lagonoy, Presentacion) were placed under tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) no. 5, while TCWS no. 4 is hoisted over Camarines Norte, the northern and southeastern portions of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Goa, San Jose, Tigaon, Sagñay, Calabanga), and the northeastern portion of Albay (City of Tabaco, Tiwi, Malinao, Malilipot, Bacacay, Rapu-Rapu). These areas will experience typhoon-force winds.

TCWS no. 3 is hoisted over Polillo Islands, the northern and eastern portions of mainland Quezon (Calauag, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Buenavista, Lopez, Quezon, Perez, Alabat, Gumaca, Plaridel, Atimonan, Mauban, Real, General Nakar, Infanta), the rest of Camarines Sur, the rest of Albay, and the northern portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz, City of Sorsogon, Gubat, Barcelona, Castilla, Casiguran, Pilar, Donsol, the eastern and central portions 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) and the northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Arteche, Oras, Jipapad). Storm-force winds will prevail in these areas.

Gale-force winds will be experienced in areas under TCWS no. 2: southern portion of Isabela (Calauag, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Buenavista, Lopez, Quezon, Perez, Alabat, Gumaca, Plaridel, Atimonan, Mauban, Real, General Nakar, Infanta), Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal, the rest of Quezon, Laguna, Marinduque, the rest of Sorsogon, Burias Island, and Ticao Island, central portion of Eastern Samar (Dolores, Maslog, Can-Avid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, City of Borongan), the northern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, Calbayog City, Santa Margarita, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan, Tarangnan, Motiong, Gandara, Jiabong, City of Catbalogan, Paranas, Hinabangan, San Sebastian, Pagsanghan), and the rest of Northern Samar.

Areas under TCWS no. 1 will experience strong winds: Mainland Cagayan, the rest of Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, the rest of Pangasinan, the rest of Zambales, Batangas, the northern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Sablayan, Santa Cruz, Mamburao, Abra de Ilog, Paluan) including Lubang Islands, the northern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Naujan, Baco, Victoria, Socorro, Pinamalayan, Bansud, Gloria, Pola, City of Calapan, Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay), Romblon, and the rest of Masbate, rest of Eastern Samar, the rest of Samar, Biliran, the northern and central portions 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, City of Baybay, Mahaplag), the northeastern portion of Southern Leyte (Silago), the northernmost portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin) including Bantayan Islands, and the northernmost portion of Iloilo (Carles), northern portion of Dinagat Islands (Loreto, Tubajon).

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecast intense to torrential rains in Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, and Camarines Norte.

Heavy to intense rains are likely in Quezon, Northern Samar, and Sorsogon.

Moderate to heavy rains are forecast in Aurora, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Marinduque, Samar, Leyte, Biliran, Eastern Samar, and Masbate.

There is a high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights exceeding 3 meters in the next 48 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Ilocos Region (western coast), Isabela, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Marinduque, Bicol Region, Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, and Biliran.

Gale warning is hoisted over the eastern and southern seaboard of Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Visayas. Sea travel is risky for all types or tonnage of vessels.

Due to the forecast impacts of Pepito, low-cost airline Cebu Pacific announced the cancellation of 44 domestic and international flights scheduled on Sunday, Nov. 17.

* DG 6047/6048: Manila – Busuanga – Manila
* DG 6051/6052: Manila – Busuanga – Manila
* DG 6113/6114: Manila – Naga – Manila
* DG 6117/6118: Manila – Naga – Manila
* DG 6193/6194: Manila – Legazpi – Manila
* DG 6195/6196: Manila – Legazpi – Manila
* DG 6243/6244: Manila – Caticlan – Manila
* DG 6247/6248: Manila – Caticlan – Manila
* DG 6505/6506: Manila – Cebu – Manila
* DG 6839/6840: Manila – Siargao – Manila
* DG 6881/6882: Manila – Surigao – Manila
* 5J 321/322: Manila – Legazpi – Manila
* 5J 537/538: Clark – Singapore – Clark
* 5J 608/609: Cebu – Clark – Cebu
* 5J 821/822: Manila – Virac – Manila
* 5J 913/914: Clark – Caticlan – Clark
* 5J 915/916: Clark – Caticlan – Clark
* 5J 1017/1018: Clark – Puerto Princesa – Clark

Likewise, the following PAL domestic flights were canceled:

* 5J 1085/1086: Clark – Davao – Clark
* 5J 1135/1136: Clark – Iloilo – Clark
* 5J 4301/4302: Clark – Cebu – Clark
* 5J 5068/5069: Clark – Narita – Clark
* PR2196/2197 Manila-Laoag-Manila
* PR2198/2199 Manila-Laoag-Manila
* PR2014/2015 Manila-Tuguegarao-Manila
* PR2932/2933 Manila-Basco-Manila
* PR2688/2689 Clark-Basco-Clark

Affected passengers could opt for a refund, or store the value in a credit or fund. They could also rebook or reroute their tickets, according to the airlines.

Pepito is likely to make landfall over the vicinity of Catanduanes on Saturday night or early Sunday.

A landfall scenario over the eastern coast of Camarines Sur or Albay during the same time frame is not ruled out. (PNA)