TACLOBAN CITY - The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council 8 will implement cancellation of land travel effective December 14, 8:00 a.m.., except those already in transit during the said period.
Office of the Civil Defense 8 Regional Director Lord Byron Torrecarion, said the action aims to prevent unwanted surge, movement, and build-up of individuals and vehicles in ports and terminals due to the cancellation of sea trips due to unfavorable weather conditions.
He added that it is also in connection with the travel advisories released by RDRRMC-5 and CARAGA.
However, sea travel going to Regions 5 and CARAGA will continue until backlogs are transported or otherwise stopped due to the weather.
According to the Tropical Cyclone Advisory on Tropical Storm 'Rai' was issued at 5:00 p.m., Monday (December 13), its center was estimated at 1,630 km East of Mindanao.
It had a maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center, gustiness up to 80 km/h, and a central pressure of 998 hPa.
It is moving west-northwestward at 20 km/h, and will likely enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility as a severe tropical storm tomorrow ( December 14) evening.
Once inside PAR, the domestic name “Odette” will be assigned to the tropical cyclone.The west-northwestward movement is forecasted to continue until Wednesday ( December 15) morning or afternoon.
Afterwards, the tropical cyclone will turn westward and may make landfall in the vicinity of Caraga or Eastern Visayas by Thursday ( December 16) afternoon or evening.