MANILA - Typhoon Pepeng (international code name Parma) remained strong Friday morning as it moved towards the area of Aurora and Isabela provinces in northern Luzon.



Weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) hoisted Signal No. 2 over Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, northern Quezon, Aurora and Polillo Islands.



Signal No. 1 was placed over 27 areas in Luzon and Visayas, including Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, Cagayan, Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Mt. Province, Ifugao, Benguet, La Union, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, southern Quezon, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Burias Island, and Northern Samar.



PAGASA said Pepeng was located 270 kilometers east of Virac town, Catanduanes province. It was moving west northwest at 19 kph, packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 230 kph.



The typhoon was expected to make landfall in the Aurora-Isabela area by Saturday noon and exit through Laoag City by Sunday morning.



The regional disaster coordinating council in Central Luzon has ordered units in Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Bataan, Zambales, Pampanga and Bulacan to closely monitor the storm and prepare for preemptive evacuations.



The Bicol regional disaster coordinating council has also convened and plot areas that can be used as evacuation sites in case Pepeng turns into a supertyphoon.



The Philippine Coast Guard has banned small seacrafts from sailing, particularly in Bicol and other areas affected by the typhoon.



Officials in Bicol said a total of 1,071 stranded passengers have been stranded in ports.



Classes at all levels in Albay province has also been suspended in anticipation of the typhoon.