Montenegro Shipping Lines suspended all ferry services to Oriental Mindoro on Friday, Nov 15, as shipping operators prepare for Typhoon Pepito’s arrival.

The shipping company’s routes connecting Roxas, Oriental Mindoro to Caticlan, Malay, Aklan and Odiongan have been canceled until further notice, according to a public advisory.

The cancellations affect both inbound and outbound trips between Oriental Mindoro and its connecting ports.

The suspensions include ferry services to Romblon, Masbate, and Northern Samar, as vessels seek shelter from the approaching typhoon.

Only a handful of routes remain operational with adjusted schedules, primarily those connecting Batangas City to nearby ports, with final departures scheduled for late afternoon.

Passengers seeking updates can contact Montenegro’s Oriental Mindoro Satellite Office or the company’s other provincial offices listed in the advisory.

Meanwhile, the Philippine weather bureau PAGASA reported waves up to 8.0 meters high along the eastern seaboards of Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, and Eastern Samar.

Sea travel has been deemed risky for all vessels, with authorities urging mariners to remain in port or seek immediate shelter.

At 4:00PM Friday, Pepito was located 465 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, packing maximum sustained winds of 150 km/h near the center with gusts up to 185 km/h.

The typhoon is expected to make landfall in Catanduanes by Saturday evening or early Sunday morning.

PAGASA warned of potential storm surge reaching 3.0 meters in coastal areas of Aurora, Quezon, southeastern Batangas, northwestern Romblon, Marinduque, Bicol Region, and parts of Samar. The agency predicts Pepito may intensify into a super typhoon before landfall.

PAGASA has placed several areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2, including eastern portions of Northern Samar and parts of Eastern Samar, while Signal No. 1 covers multiple provinces in Luzon and Visayas, including Aurora, Quezon, and Marinduque.