An initial 217 families or 706 individuals are staying in evacuation centers in Roxas City, Capiz after a preemptive evacuation was conducted Tuesday night in preparation for Typhoon Odette. “They are staying in coastal barangays of Roxas City and they have threats of huge waves. There is a possibility that their houses will be damaged and their lives will be at risk so they were pre-emptively evacuated,” Office of Civil Defense (OCD) information officer Cindy Ferrer said in an interview Wednesday. The families came from villages of Baybay, Barra, Dumolog, Cogon, Libas, Punta Cogon, Olotayan, Bago, Culasi and Lawaan. The

All disaster operations centers in Negros Occidental went on red alert on Wednesday to be ready for the possible onslaught of Typhoon Odette. As of 11 a.m., Tropical Cycle Wind Signal No. 1 has been hoisted all over Negros Occidental, based on the latest bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). “Odette” has intensified into a typhoon as it moves westward over the Philippine Sea east of Mindanao, the weather bureau said. “Heighten your preparedness, initiate proactive measures and take appropriate precautionary actions for possible flooding, flash floods, or landslides,” Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who chairs

At least 3,124 villages in Eastern Visayas (Region 8) have been warned of possible flooding and landslides due to Typhoon Odette, according to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB). MGB Region 8 senior geologist Rodrigo Jay Miralles said the updated list of highly-susceptible villages has been shared with local government units to facilitate pre-disaster planning activities. “This does not mean that the entire village (is) prone to flooding or landslide. There is only a certain part of the village that is at risk,” Miralles told reporters on Wednesday. These villages are located in the provinces of Southern Leyte, Northern Samar,

After health authorities confirmed two cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the Philippines, Malacañang on Wednesday reminded the public not to be complacent and continue adhering to minimum public health standards. Acting Presidential Spokesperson, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, said the government would “closely monitor” developments on the Omicron variant after the Department of Health (DOH) detected the Omicron variant in two travelers who recently arrived in the Philippines from Japan and Nigeria. “We assure our people that we will closely monitor developments of the two cases in light of existing protocols, as we continue

Thirty new police patrol cars were turned over to their recipients following a blessing and turnover ceremony held at the Police Regional Office Western Visayas (PRO6) headquarters here on Tuesday. “These are significant considering that they are brand new PNP vehicles. They can help in our checkpoints, police response and other activities considering that mobility is very important,” PRO 6 spokesperson Lt. Col. Arnel M. Solis said in an interview on Wednesday. The new single cab 4×2 Toyota Hi-lux vehicles were part of the Capability Enhancement Program of the Philippine National Police. The recipients were chosen by the national headquarters,

Authorities have rescued three persons including two Chinese nationals and arrested six suspected kidnappers in an operation in Las Piñas City, the National Capital Region Police (NCRPO) said on Wednesday. Based on the report submitted by the Southern Police District (SPD), Maj. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr., chief of NCRPO, identified the suspects as Xing Juntao, a 32-year-old Chinese national and residing in Pasay City, and his cohorts Michael Vargas, 24, of Catmon, Malabon City; Ellerie Javier, 40, of Santol Tanza Cavite; Elson Obligar, 38, of Calamba City; Ronald Desuasido of Lipa City, Batangas, and Marianette Salazar of Imus, Cavite. Danao