Coast Guard issues typhoon guidelines for fishermen

As several fishermen died after tropical cyclone “Basyang" (Conson) lashed Luzon earlier this month, the Philippine Coast Guard developed a 12-point typhoon guideline for fisherfolk. The Coast Guard, in an advisory posted on its website, said the guidelines apply to rainy and stormy weather. Included among the guidelines is a reminder to ensure cell phones and radios are fully charged so they can get weather updates and return to land. Fishermen were also reminded to avoid areas with weak or no cell phone signals. The 12 guidelines include: 1. Alamin ang lagay ng panahon bago pumalaot (Know the weather conditions before leaving shore). 2. Palaging makinig sa radyo at manood ng telebisyon ukol sa mga ulat panahon (Listen to the radio and watch television for weather reports). 3. Kung papalaot para mangisda, ugaliing magdala ng fully-charged cell phone para sa komunikasyon at transistor radio. (Before leaving shore, bring fully charged radio and cell phones for communications). 4. Huwag pumalaot sa mga lugar na walang cellphone signal kung masama ang panahon (Avoid areas without cell phone signals especially if the weather is bad). 5. Ipagbigay alam sa inyong barangay kapitan at lokal na opisyal tungkol sa inyong gagawing paglalayag at mag iwan ng contact number (Let your village captains and local officials know where you plan to go, and leave a contact number). 6. Alamin at tandaan ang mga hotline numbers ng Coast Guard, PNP, AFP at ng inyong mga barangay (Know the hotline numbers of the Coast Guard, police, military and local villages). 7. Sumunod sa mga alituntunin at ipinagbabawal ng Coast Guard hinggil sa paglalayag sa panahon ng bagyo (Follow the guidelines of the Coast Guard during typhoons). 8. Tulungan ang Coast Guard sa pagbibigay ng mga paalala, babala at pagbabawal sa paglalayag sa panahon ng bagyo sa iba pang mangingisda sa inyong lugar kapag panahon ng bagyo (Help the Coast Guard disseminate advisories on the weather). 9. Laging magdala ng sapat na bilang ng lifejackets, flashlights, at baterya sa paglalayag (Always bring lifejackets, flashlights and batteries). 10. Ugaliing magkaroon o huwag labis na lumayo sa iba pang mga kasamahang mga bangka sa pangingisda (Do not stray too far from fellow fishermen). 11. Tiyaking maayos ang kondisyon ng motor o makina at mga katig ng bangka bago maglayag at magdala ng mga gamit pangkumpuni (Make sure your motorboat is in good condition before leaving shore). 12. Laging isaisip ang sariling kaligtasan sa karagatan at huwag isapalaran ang inyong buhay (Always keep safety at sea in mind). The Coast Guard also advised fishermen to call its hotlines at telephone numbers 527-3877 and 5278481, and its text hotline at 0917-7243682 (0917-PCGDOTC). – VVP, GMANews.TV