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Ports will give priority to government delivery trucks and power restoration teams headed to areas battered by severe tropical storm Kristine
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Philippine Ports Authority general manager Jay Daniel Santiago gave the directive to PPA port management offices nationwide
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The order is in support of government’s aim to restore power supply in affected areas
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PPA assured no delay in the loading of government delivery trucks to vessels for timely delivery of needed supplies
Ports will give priority to government delivery trucks and power restoration teams headed to areas battered by severe tropical storm Kristine, according to the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).
PPA general manager Jay Daniel Santiago gave the directive to PPA port management offices nationwide in support of government’s aim to restore the power in affected areas, PPA said in a statement.
The agency assured no delay in the loading of government delivery trucks to vessels to ensure timely delivery of needed supplies.
PPA said they are allotting space for three trucks in commercial vessels plying the Matnog, Sorsogon-Allen, Northern Samar route.
The initiative ensures efficient movement of supplies for faster recovery of typhoon-hit areas.
PPA port managers were instructed to issue directives to private ports under PPA jurisdiction to also implement the same measures, and to strictly monitor compliance.
Santiago said non-compliance of private ports will result in administrative sanctions pursuant to the issuance of their Certificate of Registration and permit to operate.
Santiago, meanwhile, thanked all employees of PPA in Bicol and Batangas who have continued to work despite the heavy rains and floods brought by Kristine.
Based on PPA data as of 6:00 a.m. of October 25, there are 7,520 passengers still stranded in various ports, of which 3,312 are in Bicol ports, 2,867 in Eastern Leyte/Samar ports, and 302 in Panay/Guimaras ports.
PPA, together with local government units and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), continues to provide hot meals and relief food packs to stranded passengers.
Free water refilling stations, charging stations, and passenger help desks are in place at ports.
Cough and cold medicines from LGUs and DSWD are available, too.
PPA, meanwhile, reminds passengers to check the status of their trips with shipping lines before proceeding to port.
Kristine entered the Philippine area of responsibility on October 21, bringing heavy rainfall that caused flooding and landslides. As of October 25, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and management Council reported that more than two million people have been affected, with the Bicol region logging the highest number of affected populations. About 319,697 were displaced from their homes, while 196 cities experienced power outages and 1,323 houses were damaged. Kristine is expected to exit PAR on October 25.
