'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. Pagasa chief Prisco Nilo said the high pressure area spotted over Hong Kong has affected the wind speed of "Pepeng." According to Nilo this development could open two scenarios for the country: one, a slower "Pepeng" could change direction and divert away from the Philippines or two, it could move down and pummel central Luzon. Super typhoon strength 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. 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. "Pepeng" might not have "Ondoy's" rains Cruz said since "Pepeng" has slowed down, it might not bring as much rain as tropical storm "Ondoy." He said "Ondoy" was able to unleash more rain since it dragged the southwest monsoon that time. But "Pepeng" would only have "a smaller rain area" compared to last week's weather disturbance. The rainfall brought by tropical storm "Ondoy" to Metro Manila and nearby areas in a span of six hours on Saturday was the most in recorded history, surpassing the previous record for the metropolis in 1967. [See: Epic flood in Metro Manila caused by record rainfall] 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. - Joseph Holandes Ubalde, GMANews.TV