MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday announced that consular services in its office in Isabela will be suspended on Friday, Nov. 15.

In an advisory, the DFA said the suspension of consular operations is in anticipation of the possible landfall of Tropical Storm ‘Ramon.’

The department added that this is also pursuant to the order of the provincial government to suspend work in government and private offices, as well as, classes in all levels in public and private schools to ensure the public’s safety.

“Applicants with confirmed appointments who will be unable to avail of consular services due to the suspension of operations will be accommodated until Friday, 13 December 2019 during regular office hours,” the DFA said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) earlier said ‘Ramon’ is expected to make landfall anytime during the weekend.

In its 5 p.m. update, PAGASA said ‘Ramon’ was last spotted 500 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

The storm is moving north northwest at the speed of 15 kph.

Catanduanes remains under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 2 while the eastern part of Isabela, including Divilacan, Palanan and Dinapigue; Northern Aurora, including Dilasag, Casiguran, and Dinalungan; Polillo Island, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Albay are under signal no. 1.

PAGASA said that on Friday, light to moderate with occasional heavy rains may prevail over the eastern parts of Cagayan and Isabela while Northern Aurora, Camarines Norte, and Polillo Island will experience light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains.

On Saturday, light to moderate to occasionally heavy rains may be experienced over Cagayan, Northern Aurora, and the eastern portion of Isabela.

Light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains over Apayao and the rest of Isabela and Aurora.

The state weather bureau also advised residents in the said areas, especially those living in areas identified to be highly susceptible to flooding and rain-induced landslides, to take precautionary measures, coordinate with respective local disaster offices, and continue monitoring for weather updates from the state weather bureau.

Sea travel remains also risky, especially for small sea crafts, over the seaboards of areas under TCWS, the seaboards of Northern Luzon, and the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon due to prevailing or forecast rough sea conditions.

MANILA, Philippines – No Filipinos were injured in the bushfires that razed parts of New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Wednesday.

The DFA said the information was based on reports from the Philippine Embassy in Canberra, Consulate General in Sydney, and Honorary Consulates in Brisbane and Perth.

“The DFA is closely monitoring the situation in the affected areas and is coordinating with various agencies and Filipino community leaders in Australia to ascertain the safety and welfare of Filipino nationals,” it said in a statement.

Bushfires that broke out in northern New South Wales and Queensland over the weekend killed three people and destroyed over 100 homes. A state of emergency has been declared in the said areas.  

The DFA urged Filipinos in bushfire-hit areas to heed the instructions of Australian authorities and to take necessary precautions for their safety.

Filipinos requiring assistance are advised to contact the respective Consulate with jurisdiction over their area.

Contact details are available at https://www.philembassy.org.au/offices/sydney-pcg-nsw.

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday said that two Filipino seafarers were abducted in West Africa.

In a statement, the DFA said it received a report of another piracy incident from the Philippine Embassy in Abuja that resulted in the kidnapping of two more Filipino sailors “somewhere in Togo.”

The department said the recent incident brings to 11 the total number of Filipino seafarers kidnapped in West Africa following a report on nine others who were captured in Benin last week.

“The Philippine Government is actively tracking the development of the case with the Embassy in Abuja continuing its coordination with relevant authorities to ensure the safety and security of the Filipino seafarers,” the DFA said.

The department added it is in close communication with the sailors’ manning agency and would provide updates as necessary on the incident.