LTO suspends land travel to Visayas, Mindanao amid typhoon threat

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) suspended land travel to the Visayas and Mindanao due to Typhoon “Odette,” said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Wednesday.

In a statement, DOTr said that the LTO, as requested by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in the Bicol Region, ordered the suspension of land travel to the Visayas and Mindanao effective 6 p.m. of Dec. 13.

The LTO order also ordered the suspension of land travel to Catanduanes and Masbate effective as of 9 a.m. of Dec. 14.

“The order aims to prevent the congestion of vehicles along the Maharlika Highway and the Port of Matnog in Sorsogon, and all other ports in the Bicol Region,” said DOTr in a statement.

Per LTO’s directives, the suspension will remain while the tropical cyclone warning signals are still up.

Meanwhile, sea ports remain open but voyages are suspended in the areas affected by Typhoon “Odette,” according to the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), on the other hand, is now assessing the possibility of suspending air traffic operations in areas expected to be affected by Typhoon “Odette.”

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade also directed all of its attached agencies to be prepared for the onslaught of “Odette”.

“We need to be ready for this storm. Let us monitor closely and coordinate all action with all the other concerned government agencies so that those who are going home to their provinces to spend the Christmas holidays will be safe,” Tugade said.

With this, units of the PCG have started mounting efforts for possible evacuations, rescue operations and the delivery of relief amid the typhoon.

In the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (Pagasa) latest forecast, 14 areas in Visayas and Mindanao are currently under signal no. 2.

Based on its current track, “Odette” is expected to make landfall in Eastern Visayas-Caraga Region by Thursday afternoon or evening, Dec. 16.

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JPV