After making landfall twice in northern Philippines, Typhoon ''Emong'' weakened into a tropical storm and is forecast to lose strength as it moves away from Batanes.

In its 8 pm bulletin on Friday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said ''Emong'' has winds of up to 85 kilometers per hour and gusts of up the 105 kilometers per hour as it was sighted 195 kilometers east of Itbayat.

It is moving north-northwest at 40 kilometers per hour. ''Emong'' is forecast to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility Saturday morning.

Tropical cyclone warning signals, which reached as high as No.4 when ''Emong'' neared Pangasinan and La Union, were lowered to No.2.

It was up over Batanes, Babuyan Islands and the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan.

In Metro Manila, rains of between 50 milimeters and 100 milimeters due to the enhanced southwest monsoon are forecast Friday night to Saturday noon. DMS