TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has enforced a no sailing policy in coastal areas in Cagayan Valley to ensure the safety of residents during typhoon “Betty” (international name “Mawar”).
Coast Guard Ensign Lamie Mangulay said among banned activities under the no sailing policy are taking a bath or swimming in coastal areas and fishing and sailing of any type of boats and vessel at sea.
“Members of the Deployable Response Group (DRG) are on standby alert to augment the response assistance and support to the severely affected local government units (LGUs) in Cagayan and Isabela provinces,” Mangulay said.
Mangulay said that they are closely monitoring low-lying areas in Cagayan, particularly Tuguegarao City, Amulung, Claveria, Aparri, Sanchez Mira, Santa Ana, and Calayan Island, all in Cagayan.
Michael Conag, spokesperson of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) in Region 2, said that the Cagayan Valley Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is prepared for Betty.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Region 2 has prepositioned Quick Response Assets in 32 strategic areas in the five provinces in Cagayan Valley – Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and Batanes.
Wilson Valdez, public information officer of DPWH-Region 2, said their QRA assets will conduct highway clearing operations in case a landslide may occur during the onslaught of the typhoon.
The military has placed 12,000 personnel, including air and water assets, for humanitarian and disaster response operations.
The DSWD-Region 2 has prepositioned 42,474 family food packs and 12, 528 non-food items for Betty evacuees.
DSWD-Region 2 Director Lucy Alan said that LGUs have prepositioned relief items and food and non-food items for augmentation in possible relief operations are stockpiled in the agency’s warehouses across the region.