Bohol prepares for Typhoon ‘Ompong’

Passengers bound for Cebu City rush to catch the last trip on Thursday at Tagbilaran Seaport in Bohol. Boat trips since Thursday noon have been canceled, following advisories from Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and Philippine Coast Guard due to Typhoon “Ompong.” PHOTO by Leo Udtohan/Inquirer Visayas

TAGBILARAN CITY — Yet Kwai Wang and her friends were early on Thursday at the Tagbilaran Port to catch the 11 a.m. trip bound for Cebu City.

Wang, 32, and her friends were in Panglao for a three-day vacation, but their return to Cebu was marred by news that Typhoon “Ompong” (international name: Mangkhut) was to hit the country.

Ompong, perceived to be the strongest typhoon to hit the country this year, will bring heavy to intense rains starting Friday.

“We (are) in a hurry to return to Cebu (because) we don’t want to be stranded,” she said.

Other passengers rushed to catch the last trip of  2Go SuperCat at 11 a.m. and the last trip of OceanJet at 11:40 a.m.for Cebu City.

Boat trips since Thursday noon have been canceled, following advisories from the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and the Philippine Coast Guard due to Ompong.

Although the typhoon was projected to hit the extreme northern region of Luzon, government offices have prepared for eventualities.

Billboards along Gallares Street in Tagbilaran City have been rolled down in anticipation of the strong winds and rains that will be brought by the typhoon.

Some areas in Bohol had cloudy skies on Thursday while moderate waves were experienced in Panglao town on Thursday morning, but some foreigners were still spotted swimming in the island’s white-sandy beaches.

Dr. Anthony Damalerio, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), said they are prepared for the possible effects of typhoon in the province, even as Bohol is not directly in the typhoon’s path.

He said 9,743 relief packs were readied by the provincial social welfare and development office (PSWDO) and stored at warehouses in the municipalities, while 1,080 relief packs were stored at the Tagbilaran warehouse.

He said the Provincial Health Office had prepared medical teams to will respond to emergency situations while Tarsier 117, the province’s emergency response unit, has activated its sub-stations and alerted its personnel, including search and rescue teams.

“Dili ta maapil pero the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has warned of heavy rainfall in the province,” Damalerio said. /ee