MANILA- Typhoon "Gorio" has kept its strength and is now heading towards Taiwan, state weather bureau PAGASA said Saturday.

In its 11 a.m. weather bulletin, PAGASA said Gorio has maximum sustained winds of up to 145 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 180 kph.

It was last located 265 kms north, northeast of Basco, Batanes.

Moderate to heavy rains are expected within the 500-km diameter of the typhoon, according to PAGASA.

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 2 is still raised over the Batanes group of islands while Signal No. 1 is raised over the Babuyan group of islands.

Gorio and another tropical depression still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon, bringing moderate to occasionally heavy rains over the western section of Northern and Central Luzon.

Light to moderate rains are meanwhile expected over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.

Gorio is expected to leave the PAR by Sunday.

Meanwhile, the tropical depression located over the West Philippine Sea was estimated at 435 kms west of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte and is still outside PAR.