Pepito makes landfall over Panganiban, Catanduanes

Super Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-Yi) has made landfall in the vicinity of Panganiban, Catanduanes, the state weather bureau said on Saturday night.

Pepito hit land at 9:40 p.m., PAGASA said in an update.

''Pepito will make landfall over Catanduanes as a super typhoon at or near peak intensity, and as a super typhoon or typhoon over Aurora. Significant weakening will occur during the passage of Pepito over mainland Luzon tomorrow, but it will likely remain as a typhoon throughout its passage over mainland Luzon,'' the agency said in its 8 p.m. bulletin.

Signal No. 5 was raised over Catanduanes and the northeastern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Garchitorena, Lagonoy, Presentacion).

In a Facebook post, the provincial government of Catanduanes said that it would be dangerous for rescuers to perform their duties because of the powerful storm. It promised to resume rescue efforts once the weather improved.

Under Signal No. 4 are 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).

Signal No. 3 was hoisted over the following areas:

•     Aurora
•     Polillo Islands
•     the northern and eastern portions of mainland Quezon (Calauag, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Buenavista, Lopez, Quezon, Perez, Alabat, Gumaca, Plaridel, Atimonan, Real, General Nakar, Infanta, Mauban, Sampaloc), the eastern portion of Rizal (Tanay, Pililla)
•     the northeastern portion of Laguna (Santa Maria, Famy, Mabitac, Pakil, Pangil, Siniloan, Paete, Kalayaan, Lumban, Cavinti)
•     the rest of Camarines Sur
•     the rest of Albay
•     the northern portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz, City of Sorsogon, Gubat, Barcelona, Castilla, Casiguran, Pilar, Donsol)

Areas under Signal No. 2 are the following:

•     Isabela
•     Quirino
•     Nueva Vizcaya
•     Abra
•     Kalinga
•     Mountain Province
•     Ifugao
•     Benguet
•     Ilocos Sur
•     La Union
•     Pangasinan
•     Nueva Ecija
•     Bulacan
•     Tarlac
•     Pampanga
•     Zambales
•     Bataan
•     Metro Manila
•     the rest of Rizal
•     the rest of Laguna
•     Cavite
•     the rest of Quezon
•     Marinduque
•     Burias Island
•     Ticao Island
•     the rest of Sorsogon
•     Northern Samar
•     the northern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, Calbayog City, Santa Margarita, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan, Gandara)
•     the northern portion of Eastern Samar (Dolores, Maslog, Jipapad, Arteche, Oras, San Policarpo)

These areas were placed under Signal No. 1:

•     Mainland Cagayan
•     Apayao
•     Ilocos Norte
•     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
•     the rest of Masbate
•     the 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, Tabontabon, Tanauan, Merida, Ormoc City, Isabel, Dulag, Capoocan, Alangalang, Burauen, Tabango, Tacloban City, Kananga, Barugo)
•     the northernmost portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin) including Bantayan Islands
•     the northernmost portion of Iloilo (Carles)

PAGASA warned of a life-threatening storm surge with peak heights exceeding 3.0 m 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, and Eastern Samar.

Pepito is predicted to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Monday morning or afternoon. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/VBL, GMA Integrated News