Opong accelerates heading to Romblon; Signal No. 3 up in parts of Luzon, Visayas

Opong has maintained its strength as it accelerates heading to Romblon on Friday morning, according to PAGASA. 

It was last spotted in the coastal waters of Mandaon, Masbate packing maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 150 km/h, and central pressure of 985 hPa.

PAGASA raised the following tropical cyclone wind signals at 8 a.m.:

Signal No.3

Luzon

• Sorsogon
• Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands
• Albay
• The western and southern portions of Camarines Sur (Buhi, Iriga City, Bato, Nabua, Balatan, Baao, Bula, Minalabac, San Fernando, Pamplona, Pasacao, Libmanan, Sagñay, Tigaon, Pili, Ocampo, Calabanga, Naga City, Bombon, Canaman, Magarao, Gainza, Milaor, Camaligan, Cabusao, Sipocot, Lupi, Ragay, Del Gallego)
• The southern portion of Quezon (San Francisco, San Andres, San Narciso, Mulanay, Buenavista, Catanauan, General Luna, Guinayangan, Lopez, Macalelon, Tagkawayan, Calauag, Gumaca, Pitogo, Unisan, Plaridel, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Pagbilao, City of Tayabas, Lucban, Sampaloc, Lucena City, Sariaya, Candelaria, Dolores, Tiaong, San Antonio)
• Marinduque
• Romblon
• Oriental Mindoro
• Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands
• Batangas
• The southern portion of Laguna (Alaminos, San Pablo City, Rizal, Nagcarlan, Liliw, Majayjay, Luisiana)
• The western portion of Northern Samar (Capul, San Antonio, San Vicente)
• The western portion of Samar (Tagapul-An, Almagro, Santo Niño)
• The extreme northern portion of Biliran (Maripipi)
• The northwestern portion of Capiz (Panay, Sapi-An, Ivisan, Roxas City)
• The northern portion of Aklan (Makato, Tangalan, Kalibo, New Washington, Ibajay, Lezo, Malay, Nabas, Numancia, Batan, Buruanga)
• Caluya Islands

Visayas:

• The western portion of Northern Samar (Capul, San Antonio, San Vicente)
• The western portion of Samar (Tagapul-An, Almagro, Santo Niño)
• The extreme northern portion of Biliran (Maripipi)
• The northwestern portion of Capiz (Panay, Sapi-An, Ivisan, Roxas City)
• The northern portion of Aklan (Makato, Tangalan, Kalibo, New Washington, Ibajay, Lezo, Malay, Nabas, Numancia, Batan, Buruanga)
• Caluya Islands

Signal No. 2

• Catanduanes
• The rest of Camarines Sur
• Camarines Norte
• The rest of Quezon
• The rest of Laguna
• Rizal
• Cavite
• Metro Manila
• Bulacan
• Pampanga
• Bataan
• The southern portion of Zambales (San Marcelino, Subic, Olongapo City, Castillejos, San Antonio, San Narciso, San Felipe)
• Calamian Islands

Visayas

• The rest of Northern Samar
• The northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Oras, Arteche, Jipapad, Maslog, Dolores, Can-Avid, Taft)
• The northern and central portions of Samar (Matuguinao, Calbayog City, Santa Margarita, San Jose de Buan, Gandara, San Jorge, Tarangnan, Pagsanghan, Paranas, Jiabong, Motiong, City of Catbalogan, Hinabangan, San Sebastian, Calbiga, Pinabacdao, Villareal, Talalora, Santa Rita, Daram, Zumarraga)
• The rest of Biliran
• The northern portion of Leyte (Babatngon, San Miguel, Alangalang, Tacloban City, Barugo, Tunga, Jaro, Carigara, Kananga, Capoocan, Leyte, Tabango, Calubian, San Isidro, Villaba, Ormoc City, Matag-Ob, Palompon, Merida, Isabel, Santa Fe)
• The northern portion of Cebu (Medellin, Daanbantayan, Tabogon, City of Bogo, San Remigio, Borbon, Sogod, Tabuelan, Tuburan, Catmon, Carmen) including Camotes and Bantayan Islands
• The extreme northern portion of Negros Occidental (Toboso, City of Escalante, Sagay City, Cadiz City, Manapla, City of Victorias, Enrique B. Magalona)
• The northern portion of Iloilo (Estancia, Carles, Balasan, Batad, San Dionisio, Concepcion, Sara, Ajuy, Lemery, Barotac Viejo, San Rafael, San Enrique, City of Passi, Bingawan, Calinog)
• The rest of Capiz
• The rest of Aklan
• The northwestern portion of Antique (Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, Culasi)

Signal No. 1

Luzon:

• Quirino
• The central and southern portions of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castañeda, Bayombong, Dupax del Norte, Ambaguio, Kayapa, Santa Fe, Aritao, Bambang, Dupax del Sur, Kasibu)
• The central and southern portions of Benguet (Itogon, Bokod, Kabayan, Atok, Kapangan, Tublay, La Trinidad, Sablan, Tuba, Baguio City)
• The central and southern portions of La Union (Rosario, Santo Tomas, Pugo, Tubao, Agoo, Aringay, Caba, Bauang, Naguilian, Burgos, Bagulin, City of San Fernando)
• Pangasinan
• The central and southern portions of Aurora (Dinalungan, Dingalan, Baler, Maria Aurora, Dipaculao, San Luis)
• Nueva Ecija
• Tarlac
• The rest of Zambales
• Cuyo Islands
• The northern portion of mainland Palawan (El Nido, Taytay, Dumaran, Araceli)

Visayas:

• The rest of Eastern Samar
• The rest of Samar
• The rest of Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• The eastern and central portions of Bohol (Getafe, Talibon, Bien Unido, Ubay, Trinidad, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Mabini, San Miguel, Alicia, Candijay, Anda, Guindulman, Pilar, Dagohoy, Danao, Buenavista, Inabanga, Clarin, Sagbayan, Carmen, Sierra Bullones, Duero, Jagna)
• The central portion of Cebu (Asturias, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Cebu City, Balamban, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Toledo City, City of Talisay, Pinamungahan, Minglanilla, City of Naga, San Fernando, Aloguinsan, City of Carcar, Barili)
• The northern portion of Negros Oriental (Vallehermoso, Canlaon City, City of Guihulngan)
• The northern and central portions of Negros Occidental (Calatrava, Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City, Silay City, City of Talisay, Bacolod City, Bago City, Murcia, La Castellana, Valladolid, Pulupandan, La Carlota City, San Enrique, Pontevedra, Moises Padilla, Isabela, Hinigaran)
• The central portion of Iloilo (Banate, Anilao, Dueñas, Dingle, Barotac Nuevo, Dumangas, Lambunao, Janiuay, Badiangan, Pototan, Mina, Zarraga, New Lucena, Cabatuan, Maasin)
• The central portion of Antique (Tibiao, Barbaza, Bugasong, Laua-An, Valderrama)

Mindanao:

• Dinagat Islands
• Surigao del Norte including Siargao Island and Bucas Grande Islands

Opong is expected tol continue moving west northwestward and may landfall or pass close over Romblon and Mindoro within the next 12 hours. 

PAGASA said Opong will likely remain a severe tropical storm as it crosses the archipelago. 

Opong is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Saturday afternoon.

Classes and government work have been suspended on Friday in preparation for possible impact of Opong. 

Several lights were also canceled due to the bad weather. 

—VAL, GMA Integrated News