Typhoon Rai may make landfall in Palawan
The northern portion of Palawan听province听was placed under听signal No. 3听on Friday听as Typhoon Rai, known locally as Odette,听was projected to make听another听landfall听there.听
Covered by the typhoon signal were the towns of El Nido, Taytay, Araceli, Dumaran, Roxas, San Vicente and Puerto Princesa City, as well as听Cagayancillo听and听Cuyo听Islands, according to the local weather bureau.听
The听eye听of the听typhoon was听spotted 130 kilometers听southwest of听Cuyo, Palawan,听it said in a听2听p.m.听bulletin听posted on its website.听
The storm was packing maximum听sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour听near the听center听and听gustiness of 215听kph. It was听to cross the听South China听Sea toward the听Spratly Islands听before听leaving听the Philippine area of responsibility听by Saturday morning or afternoon, the agency said.听
The听Agriculture听department听said听it would provide relief goods听to听farmers and fishermen, including 42,823 bags of rice seeds, 12, 484 bags of corn seeds and 11,132 kilos听of assorted vegetables.听
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources听will provide P1.64 million worth of fingerlings and assistance to affected fisherfolk,听while the Agricultural Credit Policy Council will give听P100 million听in survival and听recovery听assistance.听
鈥淲e reiterate our call to the public to continue to remain vigilant, stay safe and dry and cooperate with local authorities to ensure everybody鈥檚 safety,鈥澨齛cting听presidential听spokesman Karlo Alexei B. Nograles said in a statement听on听Friday.听
The local disaster risk agency said听332,855 people听from 83,026 families听had听been evacuated in听Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula and听Caraga.听In a bulletin, the agency said听14,680 persons from听4,989听families听were听inside听192 evacuation centers in听Bicol, Western and Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao听and CARAGA.听
The听Transportation听department said听that as of Thursday, airport operations听at听Mactan Cebu Airport had听been suspended. 鈥斕Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson and Alyssa Nicole O. Tan听
