QUEZON CITY (PIA) — The Department of Energy (DOE) vowed to make sure the delivery of enough and continuous supply of fuel and cooking gas to Bicol as its caravan made a breakthrough on Monday, Oct. 28, into the region devastated by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (Trami).
At a press conference on Tuesday, Oct. 29, the DOE assured Bicolanos that the supply of fuel products (gasoline, diesel, and kerosene) and liquified petroleum gas (LPG) will be enough and continuously replenished.
“Kapag na-deliver na po ang isang milyonng litro ng gasolina, diesel, at kerosene [GDK] at libu-libong 11-kilogram cylinder ng LPG sa retail outlets ay patuloy na ire-replenish ang supply,” said DOE Undersecretary and Task Force on Energy Resiliency (TFER) Chairperson Felix William Fuentebella.
(After the delivery of GDK and cooking gas to retail outlets, preparations for the continuous replenishment of the supply will be undertaken.)
Fuentebella said that last Monday, DOE’s fuel caravan arrived in Bicol, composed of 42 tankers carrying approximately one million liters of fuel and 19 trucks carrying 22,000 11-kg LPG cylinders.
Of the 236 fuel retail outlets, 180 were operational as of Monday, and the remaining 56 outlets are being checked to see if they are fit to operate after the flood and the fuel in them is not contaminated.
Fuentebella said that DOE Secretary Raphael Lotilla, Department of Defense (DND) Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), as well as the TF Energy Resiliency, assured the Bicolanos that they are coordinating with the oil companies to provide the region with the needed fuel supply.
Also, Fuentebella said, “The DOE is in close coordination with truck drivers and helpers, the Office of Civil Defense, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Philippine National Police, and other tireless workers on the ground to replenish the region’s fuel supply.”
He said that the truckers will get their fuel supply from the Pasacao depot in Camarines Sur.
Fuentebella also said that the TFER thanked the oil companies, DOE, OCD, PNP, and the DPWH for helping organize the so-called Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Lane (HADRL).
In addition, the DOE said that there is a designated route for the fuel supply trucks that are being escorted by elements of the PNP Highway Patrol Group to ensure smooth and fast delivery of petroleum products to retail outlets.
Further, he said that the TFER is already preparing for the feared impact of STS Leon (Kong-rey) in the region, adding that DND Sec. Teodoro has ordered the implementation of preemptive measures to ensure that other regions (Regions 1, 2, 3, 6, Mimaropa, and Cordillera Administrative Region) that are likely to be affected by the new weather disturbance will be provided with fuel supply.
State-run weather bureau PAGSAGA, in its 11 a.m. advisory, hoisted Signal No. 2 over four Luzon areas due to STS Leon.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 is hoisted over four areas in Luzon as Leon intensified into a typhoon on Tuesday morning.
In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the following areas are under TCWS No. 2:
· Batanes
· Babuyan Islands
· The eastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Gattaran, Baggao, Lal-Lo, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Santa Teresita, Gonzaga, Santa Ana, Pe)
· The northeastern portion of Isabela (Divilacan, Palanan, Maconacon)
Meanwhile, TCWS No. 1 is raised over the following areas:
· The rest of mainland Cagayan
· The rest of Isabela
· Quirino
· Nueva Vizcaya
· Apayao
· Kalinga
· Abra
· Mountain Province
· Ifugao
· Benguet
· Ilocos Norte
· Ilocos Sur
· La Union
· Aurora
· The northern portion of Quezon, including the Polillo Islands (General Nakar, Infanta, and Real)
· Camarines Norte
· The eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Tinambac, Siruma, Goa, Lagonoy, San Jose, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Presentacion, Tigaon, Calabanga, and Saglay)
· Catanduanes
· The eastern portion of Albay (Rapu-Rapu, Bacacay, City of Tabaco, Tiwi, Malilipot, Malinao, Santo Domingo, Manito)
· The northeastern portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz, City of Sorsogon, and Gubat)
“Leon will likely be at or near its peak intensity during its closest point of approach to Batanes and is likely to reach the super typhoon category before exiting the Philippine area of responsibility,” PAGASA said. (PIA DMD)
