Phl Coast Guard braces for Typhoon “Hagupit”

One killed and more than 500,000 people urged to evacuate as Typhoon Neoguri hits Japan (Reuters photo via Twitter)

MANILA – The Philippine Coast Guard is aiming for zero casualty as it prepares for the coming of Typhoon “Hagupit,” which is to be renamed Typhoon “Ruby” when it enters the Philippine territory.

All coast guard units in Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and southeastern Mindanao were placed on a heightened alert.

The emergency response teams were also put on stand by in the said areas, according to Vice Admiral Rodolfo Isorena, the Coast Guard’s commandant.

Isorena added that the PCG teams  “should be ready for dispatch upon the issuance of typhoon signals” by the weather bureau.

The units were also asked “be aggressive in informing the public, especially local fishermen in these areas, on the safety precautions they need to observe during weather disturbances,” through an advisory.

Isorena added that the stations should “render regular updates on sea and weather conditions in their respective areas of jurisdiction and help monitor the status of the typhoon for the stakeholders to be informed accordingly.”