LEGAZPI CITY – At least 295 travelers bound for the provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate and some areas in the Visayas and Mindanao regions were stranded in major ports in Bicol on Tuesday.
This came as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) enforced the "no sail policy" in the region where storm signals have been raised due to Typhoon Jolina, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol said.
In an update, Gremil Alexis Nas, OCD-5 spokesperson, said 97 trucks, buses, and cars and 12 sea vessels were likewise stranded mostly in the port of Matnog in Sorsogon, while four sea vessels took shelter in the ports of Pio Duran and Matnog.
In Masbate, Nas said evacuation is ongoing in towns expected to be hit by the typhoon's landfall in the eastern portion of Masbate on Tuesday afternoon.
The eastern portion of Masbate covers the towns of Pio V. Corpuz, Palanas, Cataingan, Placer, Dimasalang, Uson, Cawayan, Esperanza Mobo and Ticao Island.
In Sorsogon, work and classes were suspended in the towns of Castilla and Donsol.
In Albay, Governor Al Francis Bichara suspended work in both government and private offices, including online classes.
The work suspension order excludes agencies which functions are related to public safety, emergency response, hospitals, and allied medical services, and disaster risk reduction.
Grocery stores and supermarkets were allowed to open and operate until 12 noon on Tuesday.
In Advisory No. 3 issued by the Albay Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRROM), Bichara directed a localized evacuation in areas prone to flash floods, floods debris flow, lahar, and landslides.
Cedric Daep, chief of the Albay Public Safety Emergency and Management Office, said moderate to intense rains would trigger lahar flows from the slopes of Mayon Volcano down the river channels, floods, and landslides are expected in low-lying areas in the province.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police has ordered all police commanders in Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and other areas to be on alert and assist in disaster response efforts of the local government units (LGUs) affected by "Jolina".
“I also instructed the Police Regional Offices concerned to put on standby PNP assets and personnel for the conduct of evacuation, search and rescue and other preparations and response in connection with this weather disturbance,” PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said in a statement.
Eleazar also reminded policemen to always coordinate with LGUs regarding measures that will ensure the safety of residents amid the typhoon.