BONGBONG APPEALS TO P.A.L. TO RESUME FLIGHTS TO TACLOBAN

AND TO GOVT  TO FULLY PREPARE FOR SUPER TYPHOON RUBY

 Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos today appealed to the Philippine Airlines to resume full operations in Tacloban to ensure that those still wanting to leave for Manila can do so at the earliest time possible.

BONG BONG'S WHISTLE STOP -   Mangaldan Pangasinan Mayor Bonafe
 de Vera-Parayno (2nd from left) welcomes Senator Ferdinand
“Bong Bong” Marcos, Jr. in front of the town hall when
the latter made a stop over in April 4 this year to donate a green multi
cab (background) for Brgy. Embarcadero of the municipality.
After a pep talked with town officials, Marcos proceeded to
 Bayambang town to witness the town’s longest  barbecue grill
bid for the Guinness Book of World Record. He visited too the
towns of Manaoag, San Jacinto, and Lingayen, and the city of
 Urdaneta.PHOTO MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

Tacloban airport has been closed to air traffic, which is why Bongbong, is also asking the Department of Transportation and Communication to open the airport so that planes can land to ferry those who want to evacuate the province even before the storm lashes.

He also appealed to the government, particularly to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to fully prepare for the possible onslaught of super typhoon Ruby and to preposition relief and rescue materials immediately before super typhoon Ruby (cyclone Hagupit) makes its expected landfall on Friday or Saturday in a wide portion of the country, particularly in Eastern Visayas.

Marcos, along with Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez have also jointly appealed to the people of Tacloban to heed all government warnings for evacuation and preparedness so that the tragedy that took place last year need not be repeated.

Already, storm Ruby has been elevated by the American Joint Typhoon Center as a super typhoon, which is expected to pack winds of 195 kilometers per hour and gustiness of 230kph.

Though not expected to be as strong as Yolanda (Haiyan) in November 2013, Ruby is expected to be stronger than typhoon Pablo, which devastated large portions of Mindanao in December 2012.

In Tacloban, people have since Wednesday been forming long queues at grocery stores and drug stores to prepare for the crippling effects of Ruby.

Churches in Tacloban that are strong enough to withstand strong gustiness are being opened up as evacuation centers to ensure that fatalities would not be as grave as in Yolanda. Even those in temporary government shelters are being evacuated this early. Already, hotels in Tacloban have been fully booked by residents who can afford to pay the price, while those who are still reeling from Yolanda’s devastating impact are left with nothing but pray round-the-clock the rosary and the Oratio Imperata for the province to be spared.

Cyclone Hagupit (TS Ruby) continues to gain strength and is now packing 195 kph winds and gusts of up to 230 kph, weather bureau PAGASA said Thursday. By Saturday morning, it is expected to be at 30 km Northeast of Borongan, Eastern Samar and will make landfall over the Samar area before noon. By Sunday, it is expected to be at 20 km South Southwest of Romblon.

PAGASA said there is also a possible storm surge occurrence over the eastern part of Samar, Bicol and the Surigao provinces as well as flash floods in low areas and landslides in mountainous areas.

“I call everyone to keep safe, prepare for exigencies, heed government warnings and pray hard that Typhoon Ruby will change its course and spare our country”.###