PCG to prioritize relief operations in Dinagat Islands —spox

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Tuesday said their goal now is to prioritize the disaster relief operations in Dinagat Islands as they have already reached Siargao in Surigao del Norte.

In a SuperRadyo dzBB interview, PCG spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo said that the BRP Sindangan and other Philippine Navy vessels have arrived in Siargao on Monday to conduct the relief operations in the area.

Now, they are bound for Dinagat Islands which was also badly-hit by Typhoon Odette, damaging roughly 95% of the province

“‘Yun ang goal ng PCG, puntahan ‘yung Dinagat, ‘yung BRP Sindangan at makapagdala ng tulong. Gayundin ang BRP Gabriela Silang ay siguro hanggang bukas ng umaga, andon na ‘yon sa Surigao. Kasama ‘yung Dinagat saka Siargao sa kanilang tutulungan,” he said.

(The goal of PCG is to reach Dinagat through BRP Sindangan and to provide help there. The BRP Gabriela Silang, which is expected to arrive tomorrow morning in Surigao, will also help victims in Dinagat and Siargao islands.)

Bag-ao said on Monday that several islets and far-flung areas in Dinagat Islands are still difficult to reach because the roads are blocked by damage from the storm’s wrath.

Relief goods also hardly reached the province as no boats were available for transport.

In a separate interview with CNN Philippines, Balilo said that the PCG, along with the Philippine Navy, will bring more relief goods to Dinagat Islands coming from the mainland Surigao del Norte.

“‘Yung mga barko na bumabyahe sa Surigao, nagtago nung kasagsagan ng bagyo. Unfortunately, ‘yung mga 15 hanggang 18 RORO vessels na tumatakbo going to Dinagat and Siargao ay naapektuhan—either sumadsad o nagkaroon ng problema dahil sa lakas ng hangin at alon, kaya walang bumabyahe,” he said.

(The ships that travel in Surigao sought shelter at the height of the storm. Unfortunately, 15 to 18 RORO vessels that travel to Dinagat and Siargao were affected because of the strong winds and waves. This is why there is no sea transport.)

As of Monday, 14 people were reported dead in Dinagat Islands due to Typhoon Odette. Seven of these were directly caused by the calamity, while others were medically-related.

Two others were missing after a storm surge in a coastal barangay facing Siargao Island, while the casualties were brought to makeshift hospitals.

Overall, Balilo said that the PCG has allocated 12 capital ships to operate for the disaster relief operations in all Odette-hit areas in the country, on top of the private cargo vessels and planes that volunteered to help.

Meanwhile, Balilo narrated that the Coast Guard Aviation Force also flew to Palawan on Monday to inspect the damages from Puerto Princesa to northern Palawan.

“Ang napansin nga ng mga piloto namin ay sarado ‘yung mga kalsada dahil nagkaroon ng mga harang o may mga natumbang puno, may mga landslide. May nakita rin pong mga sumadsad na barko,” he said.

(What our pilots noticed was the roads were closed because they were obstructed by fallen trees and other more. There were also landslides and ships that ran aground.)

He said that PCG Commandant Admiral Leopoldo Laroya also ordered them to check the situation of the personnel and stations in the province, considering that the newly-built Coast Guard station (CGS) on Pag-Asa Island was washed out by Typhoon Odette.

Further, Balilo said that 39 international tourists have been accounted for so far. This includes the initial 21 foreign tourists staying in Siargao Island which PCG said were “in good condition.”

These tourists came from Switzerland, Australia, United States of America, France, Belgium, Denmark, Singapore, Great Britain, and Vietnam.—AOL, GMA News