'Pepeng' enters RP, threatens to become super typhoon

Less than a week after tropical storm "Ondoy" (Ketsana) devastated Metro Manila and some provinces in the Central Luzon and Calabarzon regions and leaving over 200 people dead and thousands more homeless , a powerful new cyclone entered Philippine territory Wednesday afternoon. Nathaniel Cruz, weather bureau chief of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said typhoon Pepeng (international name: Parma) may even intensify into a super typhoon. "Pumasok na sa area of responsibility (ang) bagyong papangalanan nating 'Pepeng.' Pumasok siya mga 2 p.m. (The cyclone named Pepeng entered our area of responsibility at 2 p.m.)," Cruz said in an interview on dzRH radio. Cruz said Pepeng is packing maximum winds of 120 kph and may pass Northern Luzon on its way to Taiwan. "Kung tuloy tuloy at di magbabago ang direction tatama sa dulo ng Northern Luzon hanggang Taiwan (If it does not change direction it is likely to hit the Northern Luzon-Taiwan area)," he said. In its 5 p.m. advisory, Pagasa said that as of 4 p.m., Pepeng was 940 kms east of Surigao City. It is moving west-northwest at 22 kph and is expected to be 630 kms east-northeast of Borongan, Eastern Samar by Thursday afternoon.

He said that even if Pepeng would not make landfall, it would enhance the southwest monsoon and bring rains to parts of the country either on Friday or Saturday. "By Friday afternoon it is expected to be 430 kms northeast of Borongan, Samar. By Saturday afternoon it is expected to be 290 kms north-northeast of Virac, Catanduanes or 330 kms east of Casiguran, Aurora, the advisory said. "This disturbance is still too far to affect any part of the country within the next 24-36 hours," it added. Cruz said Pepeng may still intensify into a super typhoon, as it is expected to remain at sea for the next two to three days. "Puwede po, babantayan natin yan (It can intensify into a super typhoon. We are monitoring it)," he said. He urged the public to be ready for the typhoon. "Maging handa na tayo kahit wala diyan (We must be ready for it even if it has not made landfall)," he said. Pepeng entered Philippine territory less than a week after Ondoy left at least 246 people dead. The government had said it is ready for Pepeng and has readied plans for forced evacuation of people living near areas at risk. - GMANews.TV