Coast Guard alerts stations in Zambales, Northern Luzon

FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Coast Guard has placed on “full alert” its units in Zambales and neighboring provinces in northern Luzon in light of the passage of Tropical Storm “Jolina,” the 10th cyclone to enter the Philippines  this year.

Rear Adm. Rodolfo Isorena, the PCG commandant, had directed PCG stations in these places to “closely monitor the situation and exercise vigilance because of the bad weather,” said PCG spokesman Cmdr. Armand Balilo.

Isorena also warned small vessels, including fishing boats, against sailing out to sea off the western seaboard due to rough sea conditions.

Fishermen and other boat operators were reminded to wear safety gear at sea at all times, said Balilo, chief of the Coast Guard’s public affairs office.

On Tuesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Jolina was packing peak winds of 55 kilometers per hour and was predicted to move west northwest at 11 kph.

As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, the storm was observed at 240 kilometers west-southwest of Subic, Zambales.