MANILA, Philippines — Bad weather brought on by Typhoon Ofel (international name: Usagi) and Severe Tropical Storm Pepito (international name: Man-yi) prompted class suspensions in Luzon and Visayas on Friday, November 15.
In separate advisories from local government units, “walang pasok” or class suspensions were implemented in the following:
Luzon
- Cagayan (all levels including graduate studies, public and private)
- San Isidro, Isabela (all levels, public and private)
- Ramon, Isabela (all levels, public and private)
- Santiago, Isabela (all levels, public and private)
- Echague, Isabela (all levels, public and private)
- Paracelis, Mountain Province kinder to highschool public and private
- Laurel, Batangas (all levels, public and private)
- Balete, Batangas (all levels, public and private; face-to-face classes) (shift to modular distance learning)
- Albay (all levels, public and private, until lifted) (work in government offices)
- Catanduanes (all levels, public and private; work in government offices)
- Masbate (all levels, public and private)
READ: Ofel continues to weaken; no more areas under Signal No. 4
Visayas
- San Policarpo, Eastern Samar (all levels, public and private; work in government offices)
- Northern Samar (all levels, public and private)
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its 5 a.m., November 15, cyclone bulletin that Ofel continues to reduce its strength.
Ofel was last located over the coastal waters of Calayan, Cagayan, moving northwestward at 25 kilometers per hour (kph) and packing maximum sustained winds of 130 kph and gustiness of up to 180 kph.
READ: Pepito to become typhoon in 12 hrs, hit land at peak intensity
Pepito, on the other hand, further intensified and was nearing the typhoon status early Friday morning.
Pagasa said Pepito is forecast to gain more strength to become a super typhoon by Saturday evening, November 16 and hit land at peak intensity.
Pepito’s last location was marked at 995 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas, packing maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 125 kph.
It was moving westward at 35 kph.