Three bancas caught in San Rem for sailing despite suspension order

Three motor bancas were issued warnings  today in San Remigio town for sailing despite a suspension order  as storm signal number is hoisted in the northern town of Cebu due to typhoon Usman. 

Niño Wilo Ybañez, San Remigio Public Information Officer said based on the reports of Philippine Coast Guard Station  head in the town PO1 Ronaldo Macapanas that the three motorized bancas were issued first warnings today.

According to the report the two bancas were on their way to sail to the island of Bantayan, while the other one succeeded in crossing the waters from Santa Fe.

Santa Fe PIO Previtha Lynn Landao likewise said they are also monitoring from their end a banca which left the port this afternoon with five passengers.

Northern Cebu was placed under signal number 1 today as typhoon Usman is expected to affect eastern Visayas in the next days. 

Stranded passengers at Hagnaya Port. Photo by San Remigio PIO

All vessels  in the ports of Danao City, Bogo City, and San Remigio town as well as in Santa Fe and Camotes Island were  not allowed to sail.

Furthermore, more than 126passengers were recorded stranded at the Hagnaya Port in San Remigio. 

Stranded passengers at Santa Fe  Port. Photo by Lyn Landao 

Bogo City PIO Jeany Yve Ynot also reported there are 63 stranded at Polambato Port, the gateway to Cataingan Masbate and Villaba, Leyte.

In Danao City, there was no record of stranded passengers on the way to Camotes Island. (fcc/PIA7-Cebu)

CEBUANO: Ekipo, tambal ug ubang hinabang para sa kalamidad, wagtangon ang buwis-APEC

Paspas nga pagpadala sa tambal, ekipo og hinabang panahon sa kalamidad gitun-an sa tigum sa Asia PacificEconomic Conference (APEC).

Si Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Laura del Rosario, mibutyag  sa briefing sa International Media Center nga lakip sa gituki sa usa sa mga tigum sa Third Senor Officials’ Meeting (SOM3) ang dinalian nga pagpadala sa mga ekipo, tambal ug ubang mga hinabang panahon sa kalamidad.

Ang paghisgut hisgut nahitabo sa Health Policy Dialogue Asia Pacific 2020 Amidst Disaster and Outbreaks nga nahitabo dinhi sa lalawigan sa Sugbo.

 Sa maong tigum giuyunan sa mga membro sa APEC nga ipadayon ang mga tinguha sa pagpakgang sa mga sakit lakip na ang dinaliang pagtubag ug pagpangandam sa kalamidiad.

Matod ni Del Rosario nga ang Bureau of Customs (BOC) kasagaran maniguro kun ang mga hinabang gikan sa mga langyaw (foreign donations) gipayuhot ba o highly  taxable ba kini.

Siya nagkanayon nga sa pagproseso palang daan sa BOC mudangat na kini ug daghang mga adlaw aron kini mapagawas ug maabot sa hingtungdan.

“During this discussion, there is an agreement of facilitation of goods like the medicines should not be taxed because this will go to the communities that will really benefit these medicines, (Sa maong diskusyon, adunay kasabotan sa pagpahigayon sa mga butang sama sa mga medisina nga dili angayan nga buhisan tungod kay padung ni sa mga komunidad nga nanginahanglan niini)” del Rosario said.

Kabahin sa mga ekipo, sama sa crane o mga helicopter nga gikinahanglan sa gikan pa ang linog, dili pod angayan nga buhisan.

“We should allow foreign doctors to practice in the Philippines in times of disaster,(Angayan nga tugutan ang mga langyawng mga doctor nga makasulod dinhi sa Pilipinas sa panahon sa kalamidad),” matod ni Del Rosario.

Si Del Rosario, mao usab ang nangulo sa SOM3. Ang mga gisabutan sa SOM3 ipasi kini sa Finance Miniters Meeting sa pag hisgut hisgut og pundo ug dayon adto kini tukion sa High Ministers Meeting sa Disyembre.

Adunay mga 87 ka mga tigum ang mahitabo sa Sugbo karong tuiga.

Sa dugang mga kasayuran mahimong muadto sa PIA-Cebu website.

Cebu disaster councils urged to prepare for "Chedeng"

CEBU CITY, April 1 (PIA)--- Typhoon Chedeng may not affect Cebu but disaster response offices are still advised to be on guard for possible changes. 

Oscar Tabada, head of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysicaland Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA-Visayas) said as of press time typhoon “Chedeng”, internationally called “Maysak” is still 1,280 kilometers east of Guiuan, Samar.

The PAGASA head made a briefing to the core group of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office for the Pre DisasterRisk Assessment (PDRA).

PAGASA head Oscar Tabada with DSWD Jennifer Abastillas, PRO7 PSI Sandley Sabang and OCD7 head Olivia Luces 

Tabada said there is a greater probability that Chedeng will move more than Latitude 10 and will spare Central Visayas just like typhoonMario last year.

“All the numerical weather models from Japan, Korea, Beijing has the same trend, showing typhoon Chedeng to be leading towards Luzon into Aurora province, hitting Metro Manila," he said.

Typhoons happening in the first and early second quarter of the year usually spare Central Visayas.

“We are more affected by the typhoons in the last part of the year,” Tabada said.

Chedeng is considered as a Typhoon Category with sustained winds of 215 kph near center and gustiness of 250 kph. It is moving at 17 kph.

The typhoon is expected to enter tonight or early morning tomorrow.

Tabada said for now, typhoon Chedeng is gaining strength as it is still on waters.

“We know that typhoons get their strength on water but it is expected to weaken the moment it will make a landfall,”  Tabada said.

It will also bring rains at 17 millimeters per hour in the affected area.

“We have to bear in mind, typhoons will most likely move faster if these are tracing land as there is no more water to absorb,”  Tabada said.

PAGASA forecasted that Lent in the Visayas will still be sunny until Friday with light rains.

Office of Civil Defense 7 Olivia Luces said they are on guard for the typhoon and especially that it is Lenten season.

“Where there are more people or more crowd, there is greater risk of hazard, “ Luces said.

Police Superintendent Julius Gornez of the Police Regional Office 7 assured all units are on Red Alert as OPLAN LIGTAS BYAHE-SEMANA SANTA is enforced.

Jennifer Abastillas, of the Department of Social Welfare andDevelopment said they also have enough manpower to carry out possible relief here in Cebu.

“We are even on call as buffer suppliers to Luzon,” Abastillas said.

The core group of the PDRA include OCD, Philippine NationalPolice, Armed Forces of the Philippines – Central Command, Department ofInterior and Local Government (DILG), Department DSWD, PAGASA and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

In Cebu Province, Governor Hilario Davide III ordered all the departments and local government units to continue monitoring and coordinating for typhoon Chedeng. (FCC/PIA7-Cebu)

For other updates follow PIA Cebu Infocen , PIA Cebu Page on Facebook and @CebuInfocen on Twitter..

- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2441427877929/cebu-disaster-councils-urged-to-prepare-for-chedeng-#sthash.K21wWNGp.dpuf

HALF DAY work tomorrow in some offices; but on call for typhoon Chedeng

Some government offices may not report for work in the afternoon tomorrow April 1 Wednesday, however a skeletal force is on duty for typhoon watch.

In observance to the Holy Week commemoration, some government offices are declaring half a day's work tomorrow.

The first to announce was the Cebu Provincial Government, according to Information Officer Ethel Natera.  The declaration is to give time for employees who are mostly travelling to their respective hometowns.

However Natera said, Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III, ordered a skeletal force, specially those in the Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Office, due to the incoming typhoone "Chedeng" (international name Maysak).

Chedeng, according to the latest weather bulletin is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility tomorrow night.

The City of Danao through Mayor Ramon Durano III, according to IO Ramonette Mahinay, also made a declaration for half day work.  However this does not include those that are in the front line services namely, City Veterinary Office, City Market Operations, City Social Welfare and Development Office, City Traffic, City Treasurers Office.  Regular employees rendering service are entitled to Compensatory Leave.

Bogo City IO Louise Jane Cabangal said, Mayor Celestino Martinez Jr also issued early morning today a half day work.  

"Should there be a need for an office to operate, a skeletal force, if it will suffice, may embody their office," according to the Memo of Mayor Martinez.

Memo of Bogo City

On the other hand the Supreme Court of the Philippines posted on its Twitter Account that all court employees nationwide will also be enjoying half day off.

Other government offices may follow such declarations despite the absence of a declaration from the Office of the President provided that essential services are not jeopardized.

For other updates on #Lent2015 , follow @Cebuinfocen on Twitter or add PIA Cebu Infocen account on Facebook.