PCG monitors over 80 maritime incidents due to Typhoon Odette

The Philippine Coast Guard has monitored over 80 maritime incidents during the onslaught of Typhoon Odette, its spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo said on Thursday.

At the Laging Handa public briefing, Balilo said that more incident reports from Northern Mindanao region and Palawan province are not yet included.

“Yung 80, 'yun yung initial. Ang alam ko nadagdagan pa yan sapagkat hindi pa na-factor in dyan yung mga barko doon sa Northern Mindanao, maging dito sa Palawan,” he said.

(The 80 maritime incidents is just initial count. From what I know, there are more because the vessels in Northern Mindanao and Palawan have yet to be factored in.)

Balilo said that three people were reported missing due to these maritime incidents.

“Walang report ng casualties. Pero may tatlong reports na nawawala (There have been no reports of casualties, but three people have reportedly gone missing),” he said in a message to GMA News Online. 

According to Balilo, some evacuees still cannot go home to islands yet as ports remained closed a week after the onslaught of the typhoon.

He added that the PCG received a request from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to prohibit bus trips from Manila heading to Visayas because some ports are still non-operational.

Balilo advised the public to coordinate with the PCG, the Philippine Ports Authority, or the shipping companies to avoid hassle.

In the meantime, the PCG is using 10 of its vessels to transport relief items for the typhoon victims.

Moreover, Balilo said the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) agreed to let the PCG personnel use their vessels for relief operations. —LBG/VBL, GMA News