Dot Region 6 issued advisory regarding to typhoon Ruby

Posted December 6, 2014

Written by Jay-ar M. Arante

The Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 6 issued advisory today because of the incoming typhoon Ruby on Eastern and Western Visayas.

Based on this all stranded foreign and domestic tourist who may need assistance due to cancellation of trips of sea transports can report to their office.

Regard to this, DOT Regional Director Helen Catalbas said to the hotel and resort owners in Boracay that their guest will check out in the time of typhoon Ruby will give consideration to stay until the storm is gone.

Catalbas concerned to those, because of they cannot pull through in mainland due to the cancellation of the trip by sea and air transport.

On the other hand the said agency advice to all island hopping activities should be cancelled/differed until such time that the Philippine Coastguard shall have issued a favorable advisory for these.

Classes in Aklan suspended due to 'Ruby'

Posted December 5, 2014

Written by Gloria Villas

Classes for Friday in Aklan have been suspended by the Department of Education (DepEd) in the following areas which are expected to be affected by heavy rains dumped by Typhoon “Ruby”.

Office of the Department of Education (DepEd) Aklan Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Jesse Gomez said in a letter that: “In anticipation of the onslaught of typhoon “Ruby”, national government have announced suspension of classes from Thursday (December 4) until Friday (December 5).

Meanwhile, the DepEd reminded the public of its rules on the automatic suspension of classes due to tropical cyclones.

More than 44 provinces along Ruby’s path have also been declared as critical areas, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration earlier released a list of critical areas due to the typhoon.

LGU Malay prepares Ati-Atihan Festival 2015 “Higante Contest”

Posted December 4, 2014

Written by Jay-ar M. Arante

Local Government Unit (LGU) Malay is now preparing for the Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan Festival 2015 “Higante Contest.”

Indeed, Municipal Mayor John Yap request for an authority to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Provincial Government of Aklan with regards to the financial assistance for the said contest and Aklan Festival Parade.

During the SB Regular Session, the council talks about the said MOA for the incoming referral and agreed that it will be deferred on the Committee on Laws and Ordinances by presiding officer Vice Mayor Wilbec Gelito for further study.

It can be recalled that Aklan Provincial Government provides financial assistance for the 17 municipalities but has not yet been released.

Meanwhile, the “Higante Contest” is one of the highlights of Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival this coming January 9-18, 2015.

MDRRMC Malay preparations for “Hagupit” underway

Posted December 4, 2014

Written by Gloria Villas

Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) Malay started to gather their respective disaster councils this morning apparently to activated their preparedness mechanisms” for the upcoming tropical storm with international code named “Hagupit.”

In this regard, MDRRMC likewise advised different sectors to coordinate with local governments to monitor coastal areas for storm surges.

It also instructed local disaster risk reduction and management offices to monitor areas for possible preemptive evacuation, report said.

The MDRRMC will monitor the progress of Hagupit, which is expected to landfall on Saturday in parts of eastern Visayas and Bicol region.

It said, “The typhoon is then expected to cross the Visayas – Samar, Leyte, northern part of Cebu, northern part Panay, southern part of Bicol – by Sunday, December 7, if current forecasts hold.”

The state-run weather agency has reportedly dismissed fears that the typhoon “will be as strong as typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) but it will be strong nonetheless to cause storm surges, destroy agricultural farms and blow away houses made of light materials.”

However PAGASA reportedly said that “Hagupit” is strong but it won’t be as strong as Yolanda.

MTO to decide on lifting of tricycle moratorium in Boracay

Posted December 3, 2014

Written by Jay-ar Arante

Malay Transportation Office (MTO) now discussed the moratorium on tricycle operations in the island of Boracay should be lifted or not.

This is because according to their observation, the problem in increasing number of tricycle in the island is due to the absence of a moratorium.

According to Malay Transportation Regulation Senior Officer Cesar Oczon Jr., there are now 2, 681 tricycle in Boracay which have not been claimed of having a permit to operate on the island.

Meanwhile, MTO said that they are still waiting on the orders coming from LGU Malay while they still continue on processing the permit.

Moreover, more than 40 motorcycle unit was recently impounded by the MTO because of its involvement in different violation.