MANILA, Philippines — 'Pepito' is set to intensify into a super typhoon as it nears the areas of Southern Luzon and Eastern Visayas, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Saturday.

'Pepito will continue to intensify today and may reach super typhoon category within the next hours prior to its landfall [on Saturday] night or early morning [on Sunday]. Although a slight weakening may occur after its initial passage over land, much of the weakening will occur tomorrow as Pepito passes over the landmass of Central Luzon. Nevertheless, it will traverse the country as a typhoon and will likely be downgraded into a severe tropical storm once it is over the West Philippine Sea on Monday,' Pagasa said in its 5 a.m. bulletin on Saturday.