Advisory by Presidential Spokesperson on the Japan earthquake as of 4 PM, 11 March 2011

Image via WikipediaAdvisory by Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda on the Japan earthquake:

As of 4 PM, Friday, 11 March 2011

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) at 3:34 PM placed 19 provinces under Alert Level 2 which calls for mandatory evacuation of residents along beaches (located 10 to 40 meters from the shoreline) from coastal areas in the provinces covered by the alert. Alert Level 2, raised in response to the 8.9 magnitude earthquake in Japan, advises the public to be on alert for unusual waves. According to PHIVOLCS, the first tsunami waves will arrive between 5 to 7 PM today and may not always be the largest, though the agency said the waves are expected to reach 1 meter in height at most.


The provinces placed on Alert Level 2 are: Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Quezon, Aurora, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Surigao del Note, Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and Davao del Sur.

At 3:17 PM the Philippine Coast Guard issued a Notice for Mariners warning ships and small sea craft of the tsunami alert. It advised coastal areas fronting the Pacific Ocean to take maximum precautionary measures or to take shelter as necessary, and to continue to monitor for further information on the alert level.

All PCG units in the coastal areas fronting the Pacific Ocean have been directed not to allow ships and sea craft to sail or to venture out to sea until the alert level is lifted.

The PNP National Command has ordered regional directors in 19 provinces to send policemen out to monitor coastal areas and to help the local governments and the local DRRMCs with any manpower and assistance the PNP can provide. They have been instructed to update the PNP National Command every three hours.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development has alerted its regional directors to aid the DRRMCs by mobilizing stockpiles of supplies and their personnel for possible relief efforts.

The Department of the Interior and Local Governments has instructed all local DRRMCs to convene and the PNP and Bureau of Fire Protection to coordinate with the local councils.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is now closely monitoring the situation regarding the safety and welfare of the Filipinos in affected areas in Japan. The DFA has established a hotline for Japan-related concerns: (632) 834-4646.

President Aquino is aware of the situation and has been receiving constant updates from the authorities. He is, together with DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario, reviewing the situation as reports come in. The President, through the DFA Secretary, has ordered the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo and the Philippine Consulate-General in Osaka to render all possible assistance to all affected Filipinos.