Man-yi weakens to typhoon; storm signal no. 5 lifted

MANILA – Pepito (international name: Man-yi) has weakened into a typhoon and is now over Nueva Vizcaya province, according to the weather bureau's 8:00 p.m. bulletin on Sunday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Pepito packs maximum sustained winds of 165 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 275 kph while moving west northwestward at 25 kph.

The central portion of Aurora province, along with Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya has been downgraded to Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 as Pepito is forecast to exit the landmass of Luzon via the provinces of Pangasinan, La Union, or southern Ilocos Sur Sunday night or early Monday morning.

"During this period, Pepito will significantly weaken due to land interaction but will likely emerge over the West Philippine Sea as a typhoon," PAGASA said.

Other areas under TCWS No. 4 are the southern portion of Ifugao province (Kiangan, Lamut, Tinoc, Asipulo, Lagawe towns), Benguet, the southern portion of Ilocos Sur (Alilem, Sugpon, Suyo, Santa Cruz, Tagudin, City of Candon, Santa Lucia, Salcedo, Galimuyod, Cervantes, Sigay), La Union, the northern and eastern portions of Pangasinan (Sison, Tayug, Binalonan, San Manuel, Asingan, San Quintin, Santa Maria, Natividad, San Nicolas, Balungao, Pozorrubio, Laoac, San Jacinto, San Fabian, Manaoag, City of Urdaneta, Rosales, Umingan, Mangaldan, Mapandan, Villasis, Santo Tomas, Dagupan City, Anda, Bolinao, Bani, City of Alaminos, Lingayen, Binmaley, Sual, Labrador), and the northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Bongabon, Pantabangan, Rizal, Lupao, San Jose City, Carranglan, Science City of Muñoz, Talugtug, Cuyapo, Llanera).

TCWS No. 3 is hoisted over The southern portion of Isabela (San Agustin, Jones, Echague, San Guillermo, Angadanan, Alicia, San Mateo, Ramon, San Isidro, City of Santiago, Cordon, Dinapigue, Roxas, Aurora, Cabatuan, City of Cauayan, Luna, San Mariano, Benito Soliven, Naguilian, Reina Mercedes, San Manuel, Burgos), the rest of Ifugao, Mountain Province, the southern portion of Kalinga (Pasil, Tanudan, Lubuagan, Tinglayan), the southern portion of Abra (Tubo, Luba, Pilar, Villaviciosa, San Isidro, Pidigan, Langiden, San Quintin, Bangued, Manabo, Boliney, Peñarrubia, Bucloc, Sallapadan, Bucay), the rest of Ilocos Sur, the rest of Pangasinan, the northern and eastern portions of Tarlac (Paniqui, La Paz, Moncada, City of Tarlac, Gerona, Pura, San Clemente, Santa Ignacia, Victoria, Camiling, Concepcion, Ramos, San Manuel, Anao), the rest of Nueva Ecija, and the rest of Aurora province.

Metro Manila as well as the rest of Isabela, the southwestern portion of mainland Cagayan (Enrile, Tuao, Solana, Tuguegarao City, Piat, Rizal), the rest of Kalinga, the southern portion of Apayao (Conner, Kabugao), the rest of Abra, Ilocos Norte, Zambales, the rest of Tarlac, the northern portion of Bataan (Orani, Abucay, Hermosa, Samal, Dinalupihan), Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, the northeastern portion of Laguna (Kalayaan, Paete, Pangil, Pakil, Siniloan, Famy, Santa Maria, Mabitac), and the northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta, Real) including Polillo Islands are under TCWS No. 2.

The rest of mainland Cagayan, the rest of Apayao, the rest of Bataan, Cavite, the rest of Laguna, Batangas, the central portion of Quezon (Calauag, Pitogo, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Tiaong, Lopez, Guinayangan, Unisan, Plaridel, Quezon, San Antonio, Alabat, Candelaria, Lucban, Sampaloc, Padre Burgos, Sariaya, City of Tayabas, Macalelon, Mauban, Dolores, Perez, Agdangan, Gumaca, Atimonan, Tagkawayan), Lubang Islands, and the western portion of Camarines Norte (Santa Elena, Paracale, Labo, Vinzons, Jose Panganiban, Capalonga) are under TCWS No. 1.

PAGASA warned that significant to severe impacts from typhoon-force winds are still possible within any of the areas under TCWS No. 4 and moderate to significant impacts in areas under TCWS No. 3.

The sixth tropical cyclone to hit the country in less than a month will continue moving generally west northwestward and may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility PAR region Monday morning or noon. (PNA)