Palace tells public: Follow storm warnings, evacuation procedures

Presidential Communications Sec. Sonny Coloma. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines – As the country braces for typhoon “Ruby” (international name: Hagupit), Malacañang on Thursday called on the public to cooperate and follow the warnings issued by local government units and concerned agencies.

Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. also said that the government has prepared food packs in anticipation of the storm.

“Batid natin na ngayong hapon ay nakatakdang mamuno si Pangulong Aquino sa isang pagpupulong ng National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). At sa kasalukuyan batid natin na nasa pinakamataas na antas ng paghahada ang lahat ng ahensya ng pamahalaan,” he said.

(What we know is that this afternoon, President Benigno Aquino III is set to meet with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. And at present we know that all government agencies are pursuing the highest level of preparations.)

Ruby was recently upgraded to supertyphoon by the US Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). As of 10 a.m. Thursday, Ruby was packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 230 kph, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

Ruby has been compared to supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) because of the high possibility that it would hit Eastern Visayas and take on the same path as that of Yolanda in November 2013. It is expected to make landfall in Eastern Samar on Saturday.

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