DOTC on full alert for Typhoon Yolanda

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation and Communications ( DOTC)  and all its  attached agencies are now on  full status alert in anticipation of Typhoon Yolanda (international code: Typhoon Haiyan), which could be the strongest tropical cyclone to hit the country this year.

Typhoon Yolanda is expected to hit the Samar-Leyte area on Friday, November 8, between 12 noon and 3 pm. As of 11 pm Wednesday, 12 areas in the Visayas and Mindanao were already placed under Signal No. 1.

In a statement on Wednesday, November 6, DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said his department was on Level 3 alert to reduce the possibility of loss and injury that the typhoon is expected to cause.

“Safety is always our priority. We want to have the least number of casualties possible, and we placed all transport agencies on Full Alert Status precisely to ensure that,” Abaya said.

The status means conducting increased safety inspections, enhancing provisions for affected passengers, and deploying patrol vehicles and quick response teams.

The Philippine Coast Guard, an attached agency of the DOTC, deployed 40 rubber boats and 30 aluminum boats in the Visayas substations for emergency rescue operations.

Transport agencies were also set to secure vessels and aircrafts at ports and airports. They were closely monitoring the situation to decide whether trips should be suspended or cancelled.

The DOTC will provide real-time information to the public as the typhoon approaches and intensifies. It reminded transport operators to do the same.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has directed local government units ( LGUs)  to activate their respective disaster risk reduction and management councils as Typhoon Yolanda approached.

Some LGUs have already announced class suspensions for Thursday, November 7, in anticipation of the strong typhoon. – Rappler.com