PCG alerts Northern, Central Luzon stations amid threat of ‘Mangkhut’

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has alerted its Northern and Central Luzon stations for the possible effects of Typhoon Mangkhut as it is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday.

PCG Commandant Admiral Elson Hermogino directed on Wednesday all PCG districts commanders in the said areas to take necessary measures to ensure the safety of the public.

Hermogino said in an advisory that he tasked “all assets and personnel to respond during emergency situations” and delegated them to coordinate with their local disaster risk reduction and management council “for possible rescue and related activities.”

Mangkhut was last spotted at 1,190 km East Northeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, still outside PAR, as of 8 a.m.

It has maximum sustained winds of 205 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of 255 kph. It is moving west at a speed of 20 kph.

Hermogino also directed all PCG units to prevent any kind of sea travel in areas that could possibly be directly hit by Mangkhut once inside PAR.

Meanwhile, the public was advised to monitor advisories from their shipping companies for possible trip cancelation amid the bad weather, Hermogino said.

“The PCG under the instructions of Secretary Arthur Tugade of Department of Transportation is coordinating with Philippine Ports Authority in order to prepare the necessary facilities and provisions in case the passengers will be stranded in ports because of the typhoon,” Hermogino said. /je