MANILA – Transportation Secretary Art Tugade has ordered all concerned agencies and facilities of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to be ready for Tropical Storm “Odette” which is expected to affect many parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.
“We need to be ready for this storm. Let us monitor closely and coordinate all actions with all the other concerned government agencies so that those who are going home to their provinces to spend the Christmas holidays will be safe,” Tugade said.
Following the instruction of Secretary Tugade, airports under the supervision of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) have already activated their respective weather emergency standby protocols, including necessary boarding up of glass windows and doors and the reinforcement of installations and equipment.
The CAAP has also started monitoring the movement of Typhoon Odette as well as conditions in the various airports. The CAAP is also now assessing the possibility of suspending air traffic operations in areas expected to be affected by Typhoon Odette.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has started to comply with the advisories issued by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). The PPA said ports are still open but sea voyages are suspended in the areas affected by Typhoon Odette based on the PCG’s advisory.
For its part, the Land Transportation Office (LTO), relative to the request of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in the Bicol Region, has ordered the suspension of land travel to the Visayas and Mindanao effective 6:00 p.m. on Dec. 13, 2021.
The LTO order also ordered the suspension of land travel to Catanduanes and Masbate effective 9:00 a.m. on Dec. 14, 2021. The order aims to prevent the congestion of vehicles along the Maharlika Highway and the Port of Matnog in Sorsogon, and all other ports in the Bicol Region.
According to the LTO, the order suspending land travel to the affected areas will remain until the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal is lifted.
Units of the PCG meanwhile have started mounting efforts for possible evacuations, rescue operations, and the delivery of relief amid Typhoon Odette.
District, Station, and Sub-Station Commanders in areas that will be directly affected by Odette were instructed to prepare for evacuations, rescue operations, and relief missions, in coordination with local government units.
PCG units in the Caraga and Western Visayas regions were directed to immediately activate their deployable response groups (DRGs) and quick response teams (QRTs), and inspect available search and rescue (SAR) assets and equipment as Odette enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
All PCG vessels that are ‘ready for sail’ are tasked to take shelter today. Station and Sub-station Commanders in the affected areas are now preparing for the issuance of appropriate maritime safety advisories to fishermen, ship crew, and other maritime stakeholders within the day.
Meanwhile, PCG units in areas that will not be directly affected by Typhoon Odette are tasked to work with the PCG Auxiliary in repacking food, medical supplies, hygiene kits, and other relief packages to ensure the swift provision of humanitarian assistance to communities that will be affected by the severe tropical storm.
As of midday Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, Severe Tropical Storm Odette (Rai) has intensified into a typhoon.
The typhoon is expected to hit land over Caraga-Eastern Visayas by Thursday (Dec. 16) afternoon or evening. (DOTr) – bny
