No stranger to extreme weather, Batanes province in northernmost Philippines was placed under Storm Signal No. 2 as typhoon "Chedeng" (Songda) intensified and moved north-northwest early Friday. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Chedeng is expected to exit Philippine territory early Sunday. "Sa Linggo maari nang makalabas ng Philippine area of responsibility si Chedeng," PAGASA forecaster Gener Quitlong said in an interview on dzBB radio. As of 4 a.m., Chedeng was estimated at 250 km east of Tuguegarao City, packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph. By Saturday morning, it is expected to be 190 km northeast of Basco, Batanes. By Sunday morning, it is expected to be 610 km north-northeast of Basco, Batanes or 170 km southwest of Okinawa, Japan. The Japan Meterological Agency (JMA)'s 5:40 a.m. update indicated Chedeng may start moving towards Japan early Saturday. It also said Chedeng is expected to be "very intense" Friday, and "very strong" Saturday. JMA said Chedeng is expected to have winds of 100 knots (185.2 kph) and gustiness of 140 knots (259.28 kph) on Friday; 90 knots (166.68 kph) and gustiness of 130 knots (240.76 kph) on Saturday; and 60 knots (111.12 kph) and gustiness of 85 knots (157.42 kph) on Sunday. Storm signals While Batanes was placed under Signal No. 2, areas under Signal No. 1 are:
- Cagayan
- Calayan Group
- Babuyan Group
- Isabela
- Quirino
- Aurora
- Northern Quezon
- Polillo Island
"Batanes group of islands will experience stormy weather while the eastern sections of Northern and Central Luzon will have rains with gusty winds. The rest of the country will have monsoon rains," PAGASA said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast to northwest will prevail over the rest of Northern and Central Luzon and coming from west to southwest over the rest of the country. The coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough, it added. Also, it said Chedeng is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon and will bring rains over Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao including Metro Manila.
First fatality Despite President Benigno Aquino's "zero casualty" order, a 70-year-old man from Bicol was the first recorded fatality in the wake of typhoon Chedeng. In its
6 a.m. update, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Jaime Torillos of Biong village in Gigmoto town in Catanduanes died due to drowning last Wednesday. It also said Chedeng caused some P11,461,983 in damage to property, including P555,000 in agriculture in Malaybalay, Bukidnon and P10.907 million in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte. Some 20 houses were destroyed and 23 damaged. The NDRRMC said “Chedeng" also affected 67,514 families or 328,963 people in 272 villages in 42 towns and six cities in 10 provinces. Of these, 53,840 families of 262,374 people were brought to evacuation centers such as schools, barangay halls, private homes, and chapels.
Stranded As of 5 a.m. Friday, at least 951 people remained stranded in ports in Bicol and Southern Luzon, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. http://www.coastguard.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1036:qtyphoon-chedengq-stranded-passengersvesselsvehicles-as-of-500-am-27-may-2011-&catid=36:maritime-accidents&Itemid=50 The PCG said those stranded included:
- 471 in Tabaco (Albay)
- 350 in Lucena (Quezon)
- 32 in Puerto Real
Also stranded were 18 trucks, six buses, 30 rolling cargoes, one vessel, and 25 motor bancas.
— LBG, GMA News 
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