President Duterte assured the public that the government is on top of the situation and that all government agencies and local government units have been tasked to prioritize the safety and well-being of the people.
Duterte made the statement as typhoon "Ulysses" ravaged several parts of the country, particularly Luzon, even leaving houses submerged in floodwater Thursday.
In his public address Thursday afternoon, the President assured the public that the government is doing everything it can to help everyone during the onslaught of Ulysses.
"My countrymen, mga kababayan, while we are facing the heavy downpour and strong winds of Ulysses, I assure everyone that your government is on top of the situation," he said.
"From the beginning, various government agencies have already been mobilized to respond to the situation on the ground. I renew my call on all government units and concerned agencies to ensure that the well-being and safety of our people remain the top priority," he added.
According to the President, the government will extend assistance to those affected by the typhoon to ensure that nobody will be left behind.
"I guarantee you that your government will do its best to provide assistance in the form of shelters, relief goods, financial aid, and post-disaster counseling," Duterte said.
"Rest assured, the government will not leave anybody behind. We will get through this crisis, I assure you, as one nation. Mga kababayan, magbayanihan po tayong lahat (Let us help each other)," he added.
Duterte said that the government has started preparations the moment they received the advisory about Ulysses."
"'Yung dumating yung advisories sa atin, naka-pondo na ang mga tao diyan... Lahat, pati mga sundalo, nauna na po 'yan (When we received the advisory, we started deploying the people and everything else. Everything, including the soldiers, they are already there)," he said.
"The goods are there, people have been mobilized and deployed, kaya pagdating ng bagyo nandyan na, trabaho na sila (so when the typhoon comes, they can already get to work)," he added.
He added that that the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Navy, and the Philippine Air Force have new assets they can use to help and give the said assistance to those in need.
According to presidential spokesman Harry Roque, concerned departments and agencies of the Executive branch were working to provide relief, rescue, and assistance to those affected by Ulysses.
The Philippine National Police has deployed 3,261 search and rescue personnel in anticipation of Ulysses, including 291 from the National Capital Region Police Office, as of Nov. 8.
PCG personnel were deployed in various areas such as Cavite, Manila, Marikina City, Montalban, and Rodriguez in Rizal to aid local government units in their rescue and relief operations.
The DSWD Central Office (CO), Field Offices (FOs), and the National Resource Operations Center (NROC) have more than P800-million worth of stockpiles and standby funds. Standby funds of more than P226 million with more than P184 million available for Quick Response Fund in the CO.
"There are stockpiles composed of more than 282,000 Family Food Packs (FFPs) amounting to more than P130 million, other food items amounting to more than P177 million, and non-food items amounting to more than P271 million," Roque said Thursday afternoon.
To ensure the safety of passengers, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has suspended all flight operations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
The DOTr, through the PCG, likewise declared a "No Sail Policy" in 24 provinces for all types of vessels. Some 40 ports have suspended operations.
The EDSA Busway operations and railway operations of MRT-3, LRT-1, LRT-2, and the Philippine National Railways were suspended Thursday.