The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) deployed their search and rescue teams on Tuesday to assist communities affected by Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon, which have caused severe weather conditions across the country.
The Philippine Army instructed its major and line units to collaborate closely with local disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) offices to streamline rescue operations.
Army spokesperson Colonel Louie Dema-ala announced that an incident command system would be activated in each unit’s area of operations to enhance coordination efforts.
He said the Army was waiting for details from its ground commanders on the total number of evacuated residents.
Meanwhile, the PCG reported that at least 294 passengers were stranded in various ports in Southern Tagalog and Bicol due to Typhoon Carina. It added six vessels, two motorboats, and 47 rolling cargoes were stranded, with one boat seeking shelter amid the inclement weather.
In Occidental Mindoro, the PCG conducted a pre-emptive evacuation of 326 residents in Sitio Pandan, Barangay Claudio Salgado, Sablayan, following flooding in the area. The evacuees were relocated to the Pandan Evacuation Center for temporary shelter.
The Coast Guard District North Eastern Luzon (CGDNEL) has activated all its deployable response teams in anticipation of potential emergencies.
Captain Ludovico Librilla, Jr., commander of CGDNEL, directed all coast guard stations and substations to maintain a state of high readiness, ensuring that search and rescue equipment, vehicles, and rescue boats are fully operational.
Librilla also urged the public to take necessary safety precautions to protect their communities from the effects of heavy rainfall and flooding.
Similarly, the Coast Guard District North Western Luzon (CGDNWLZN) placed all personnel on high alert at regional ports to respond swiftly to maritime incidents caused by Typhoon Carina.
Captain Ivan Roldan, commander of CGDNWLZN, assured that essential first aid and rescue equipment, along with radio communication devices, are fully operational to ensure the safety and security of residents within their jurisdiction.
