To prepare for the potential effects of Tropical Storm Pepito, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Thursday advised motorists to avoid non-essential travel to and from the Bicol Region.
In its advisory, the LTO stated that beginning at 6:00 p.m. on November 14, it is not advisable to travel:
- From the National Capital Region and nearby areas to the Bicol Region
- To and from Visayas and Mindanao via Matnog Port in Matnog, Sorsogon
The LTO, in coordination with the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), also reminded motorists and travelers to exercise extra caution while on the road.
As of 10:00 a.m., PAGASA reported that Tropical Storm Pepito, still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility and internationally named Man-Yi, was located approximately 1,375 km east of northeastern Mindanao. The storm is moving west-southwest at 25 km/h, with maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h near its center, gusts reaching up to 105 km/h, and a central pressure of 996 hPa.
In other developments, Typhoon Ofel made landfall in the vicinity of Baggao, Cagayan, on Thursday afternoon. Ofel, which was previously categorized as a super typhoon, has since been downgraded to a typhoon.
