MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Coast Guard and Chinese Coast Guard on Wednesday conducted joint maritime drills on search and rescue and combating fire at sea in the waters off the Philippine capital.

In a statement, the PCG said participating Filipino and Chinese personnel were given a scenario involving a vessel that caught fire while transiting Manila waters.

In response, the PCG deployed its 44-meter multi-role response vessel 4401, BRP Tubbataha, while the Chinese team dispatched vessel 5204. Both ships were equipped with water cannons used in firefighting assistance.

Five passengers and eight crew aboard the distressed ship were also rescued using rigid hull inflatable boats with rescue swimmers to aid the victims.

The PCG said the drill allows coast guard personnel to exercise interoperability and strengthen their capabilities in responding to such crises.

The joint maritime drills on search and rescue, and combating fire at sea are part of the week-long activities of Chinese Coast Guard’s port call in Manila.

The visit aims to strengthen understanding, mutual trust, and cooperation between the Philippines and China Coast Guard in a bid to promote maritime security and maritime law enforcement amid the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea.

MANILA, Philippines – State weather service PAGASA forecast slight weakening of Typhoon Ursula (International name Phanfone) as it further moves west-northwestward over the West Philippine Sea.

As of 10:00 AM Thursday (December 26), the weather system was located at 235 km Northwest of Coron, Palawan with maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

Still, tropical cyclone wind signals (TCWS) #1 remains hoisted over the northwestern portion of Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island and Calamian Islands where winds of up to 30 to 60 kph is expected to prevail in 36 hours.

Residents in these areas are advised to take appropriate measures for possible landslides and flashfloods while sea travel remains at high risk over the seaboards of areas under Signal #1 due to rough sea conditions.

Meanwhile, PAGASA already lifted for Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, the rest of Occidental Mindoro, and the rest of extreme northern Palawan.

Through the day, light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains will prevail over northern portion of Palawan including Calamian Islands and Lubang Island.

Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Rizal, and Northern Quezon, likewise, will experience cloudy skies with scattered rains.

According to PAGASA, Ursula is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Saturday (28 December) morning.

MANILA, Philippines – A total of 30 distressed Filipino workers from Lebanon arrived in Manila through the government’s repatriation program, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday.

The Filipinos arrived on Sundayvia Etihad Airways flight. Among them were five minors.

The DFA said they were allegedly victims of trafficking in persons as there is an existing deployment ban to Lebanon.

“This is the kind of commitment we give to our OFWs under this administration. Time and again, we are ready to serve whenever, wherever,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola said.

Before leaving Beirut, the group of distressed Filipinos thanked President Rodrigo Duterte and DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. for their commitment to serve the interests of the overseas Filipino workers.

Upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the repatriates were welcomed by officials from the DFA and the Department of Justice.

The DFA said it has coordinated with the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) to help victims pursue the filing of cases against their illegal recruiters.

The department’s Migrants Workers’ Affairs unit shouldered the cost of the victims’ repatriation to Manila and/or their home provinces, as well as the immigration costs and penalties.

The repatriates also received financial assistance amounting to US $100.