Palace Urges Citizens to Cooperate with Gov’t Agencies as Typhoon ‘Ruby’ Makes Landfall

Malacañang on Thursday urged the public to cooperate with all government agencies involved in disaster management and relief operations, as Typhoon ‘Ruby’ inched closer to the Visayas region to make its landfall in the country.

Typhoon ‘Ruby,’ known internationally as ‘Hagupit,’ is expected to land over the Samar area before noon on Saturday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (PAGASA) weather bulletin.

During the daily press briefing at the Palace, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. emphasized the importance of heeding public warnings, given the threats posed by the storm.

“Nananawagan po tayo sa ating mga kababayan na agarang sundin ang mga babala at makiisa sa mga hakbang na ipinatutupad ng mga ahensya ng pamahalaan sa pangunguna ng NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council) at ang mga lokal na unit nito,” Secretary Coloma said.

He said residents must immediately leave areas where preemptive evacuation has been imposed before a bigger threat emerges, so as not to delay disaster response and other relevant operations by authorities.

“Ang pagpapaliban ng paglisan mula sa mga mababang lugar ay maaaring magpahamak sa mga mamamayan at makaantala sa mga tumutulong na kawani ng pamahalaan at citizen volunteers,” he said.

Coloma said the government is still aiming for zero casualty in dealing with the storm, hence all local government officials have been given an overall guidance to prioritize the safety of their constituents.

“Tumatalima pa rin tayo doon sa aspiration natin na ‘zero casualty’ dahil ayaw naman nating masayang ang buhay dahil lamang sa kawalan ng kahandaan o ‘yung hindi sineryoso ang babala hinggil sa maaaring panganib,” he said.

President Benigno S. Aquino III has convened an NDRRMC meeting at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City to iron out details in the government’s preparations for Typhoon ‘Ruby’ and the results of this meeting will be released to the public accordingly, Coloma said. PND (hdc)