MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has started deploying its seacraft in delivering relief goods to be distributed in the areas affected by Typhoon Odette.

PCG spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo said their relief operations have been non-stop since Wednesday as ordered by Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade.

“Nagpapatuloy po yung ating operations […] Ang instruction po ni Sec. Art Tugade ay gawing round-the-clock at abutin yung mga areas na kailangang abutin at mabigyan ng tulong,” Balilo said.

The PCG said the initial batch of relief goods was delivered to Dinagat Island. The shipment contained more than 500 sacks of rice, canned goods, noodles, and boxes of bottled water.

The PCG team also brought disaster kits, mats and blankets, hygiene kits, medicines, and several sacks of clothes.

The BRP Malabrigo also safely transported around 2,000 liters of gasoline and 16 portable generator sets, as well as drinking water to the provinces of Cebu and Bohol.

Another PCG sea vessel has been used in delivering relief supplies and bottled drinking water for, more or less, 300 families in Pagasa Island.

The PCG’s BRP Capones, on the other hand, has transported hollow blocks and sacks of cement for the repair and rehabilitation of the PCG station in Pagasa Island.

Members of the PCG Western Visayas, meanwhile, pooled their own money for the procurement of bottled water to be distributed to the families affected by Typhoon Odette.

“Kasama po ang Philippine Coast Guard sa kabuuang pagkilos ng gobyerno. Sa amin po 9 na barko ang na-deploy namin at naglalagare para magdala po ng relief at tulungan yung mga kababayan natin magmula po sa Visayas hanggang makarating po ng Mindanao, at maging dito po sa Palawan,” Balilo said.

“Pinayagan na rin po ni Usec. Gongona ng BFAR yung mga MCS-Man BFAR vessels na mina-man po ng Coast Guard na tumulong din po sa mga pagdi-distribute, ‘pag dumating po yung mga relief sa isang area, itong mga smaller vessels ang siya pong gagamitin para pumunta naman doon sa mga probinsiya na kailangan ng mga relief,” he added. —/mbmf (from the report of UNTV Correspondent JP Nuñez)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has reported that shipping and fishing operations in all ports nationwide have finally resumed.

This is after major parts of Southern Luzon and the Visayas and Mindanao experienced the onslaught of Typhoon Odette, prompting the cancellation of operations in the maritime industry.

In its Maritime Safety Advisory, the PCG said the resumption of shipping and fishing operations was as of 8 PM Tuesday (December 21).

“All passengers, truck drivers, and cargo helpers, as well as vessels, motorbancas, and rolling cargoes that were stranded due to inclement weather have been allowed to travel by sea,” the PCG said. —/mbmf

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday said it has delivered relief packs to Surigao del Norte and Roxas town in Palawan that were badly hit by the Typhoon Odette.

In a statement, the PCG said the BRP Cap San Agustin (MRRV-4408) transported 3,600 family packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to Surigao del Norte on Tuesday, December 21.

In addition, the coast guard also delivered 89 gallons of mineral water and 40 pieces of flashlight that were donated by the PCG Auxiliary 802nd Squadron, as well as 100 boxes of mineral water from PCG District Southeastern Mindanao.

For the relief efforts in Roxas, Palawan, the PCG said the BRP Batangas and BRP Corregidor set sail from Port Area, Manila on Wednesday, December 22.

The vessels were carrying boxes of mineral waters and food packs and family hygiene supplies to be distributed to residents in need of these materials.

Roxas is among the areas in Palawan that were devastated by Odette.

The PCG said the latest delivery of supplies to typhoon-stricken residents is part of its ongoing humanitarian and disaster response operations.

For those who wish to help the victims of Typhoon Odette, the PCG said in-kind donations should be coordinated with its national headquarters in Port Area, Manila and Coast Guard Base Farola in Binondo at these numbers:

• PCG Public Affairs – 0927 560 7729
• PCG Civil Relations Service – 0977 642 6004
• PCG Logistics Systems Command – 0927 852 3944

Cash donations may also be deposited through the PCG Foundation at this account:

LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES
Account Name: PCG Support System Foundation Inc.
Account Number: 0281-1025-75

For those in the Visayas and Mindanao areas that wish to send in-kind donations to typhoon victims may coordinate with the PCG’s district offices in their respective areas.