Coast Guard station on Pag-Asa Island 'washed out' due to Odette —PCG exec

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday said they will now prioritize the disaster and relief operations in Palawan, as even their Coast Guard station (CGS) on Pag-Asa Island was destroyed by Typhoon Odette. 

In an ANC interview, PCG spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo said they are now eyeing to help the residents in Odette-stricken areas in the province, particularly those from Pag-Asa Island, Puerto Princesa, and Southern Palawan.

He also stressed that their operation hub on Pag-Asa Island in the town of Kalayaan in Palawan was just finished in November this year, but was already affected by the recent onslaught of Typhoon Odette.

“Now, we’re looking at Palawan. Kailangan talaga. In fact pati ‘yung Coast Guard Station (CGS) namin sa Pag-Asa Island sa Kalayaan, reported na talagang washed out. Katatayo lang nu'ng CGS sa Kalayaan. Walang natira eh,” he said.

(We’re looking at Palawan now because we really need to. Even our CGS on Pag-Asa Island in Kalayaan was reported washed out. It was just recently built but now, nothing remains there.)

“Kung ‘yung Coast Guard Station sa Kalayaan sa Pag-Asa ay nasira, how much more ‘yung ibang mga stations din doon? May mga bahay din doon, mga eskuwelahan,” he added.

(If our CGS on Pag-Asa in Kalayaan was destroyed, how much more the other stations there? There are also houses and schools there.)

PCG has other CGS and sub-stations in Puerto Princesa, El Nido, and Coron, among others.

Balilo said the PCG was instructed by the national government to mobilize all units and resources and to coordinate with other agencies and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) for the operations in Palawan.

“Kailangan nating i-rebuild ‘yung mga structures natin sa Pag-Asa because it’s a symbol of our exercise of sovereignty doon sa area para mai-project din natin nang mabuti ‘yung ating territory doon,” he said.

(We need to rebuild our structures in Pag-Asa because it symbolizes our exercise of sovereignty, and so we could project our territory there.) 

Balilo added that he still has not received reports regarding the condition of BRP Sierra Madre which is located at the Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

In November, China demanded that the Philippines remove the grounded Philippine vessel BRP Sierra Madre at the Ayungin Shoal a day after Filipino boats reached the grounded Navy ship to complete their resupply mission.

Further, Balilo said the PCG still accepts donations of ready-to-eat food, water, and hygiene items that will be shipped to Palawan.

At the height of Typhoon Odette, PAGASA hoisted up Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 over the northern portion of Palawan and Kalayaan Islands. Odette made its ninth landfall over Roxas, Palawan on Friday after cutting a destructive path through parts of Visayas and Mindanao. —KG, GMA News