DOTr on Full Alert Due to Typhoon Ompong

Wazzup Pilipinas!

 

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and all its attached agencies and offices are on full alert to ensure the safety of passengers as Typhoon Ompong hits the northern part of the country. 

Days before the typhoon entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade had already directed agencies under the DOTr to prepare, be prompt in issuing advisories, and make sure that affected passengers will be attended to in all transportation hubs.

“We are at your disposal. Your government is ready to respond. We can weather the storm, together,” said Tugade during a coordination meeting in Tuguegarao this morning.

Passenger and cargo vessel trips were cancelled in various ports of the country in anticipation of rough seas. Airlines have been advised to issue timely updates of flight delays and cancellations so as not to further inconvenience passengers.

Public Utility Drivers were also encouraged to remain at the terminals if and when safety is compromised. 

“Sisikapin po natin na tugunan ang pangangailangan ng mga pasahero. Nauunawaan po namin na kalbaryo ang maghintay at matengga sa mga pantalan at airport pero kunting tiis at pasensya lang po ang hiling namin. Para po ito sa inyong kaligtasan,” said Tugade.

In Manila, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) transferred stranded passengers at the Manila North Harbor to an evacuation center in Tondo with assistance from the LGU. 

In Dumaguete, affected passengers were served hot meals and transported to the city evacuation center amid vessel trip cancellations. 

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the Manila International Airport Authority continue to issue flight advisories.

Apart from disaster response, Secretary Tugade gave specific instructions to all heads of agencies to plan out instantaneous restoration of transportation services as soon as the weather clears out.

Upon instructions of President Duterte, Secretary Tugade flew to his hometown of Cagayan to personally supervise and monitor ongoing preparations for the typhoon. 

As of this writing, signal number 3 is hoisted over the provinces of Isabela and Cagayan, based on the latest weather bulletin from PAGASA. 

Upon his arrival, the Transportation Chief immediately addressed the 1,700-strong policemen from the Regional Police Office -2 and reminded them of their duty to augment disaster response measures of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in their areas of responsibility.

 

To make sure that all efforts are coordinated, Secretary Tugade also sat down with local officials in a command conference held at the Provincial Capitol of Cagayan.

 

Secretary Tugade said the best and only weapon to combat the storm is adequate preparation.

 

“Ang bagyo hindi natin mapipigil sa pananalasa pero hindi naman din tayo mapipigil ng bagyo sa paghahanda. Humagupit man iyan o hindi, bukod sa relief goods, may nakahanda tayong cash para ipambili ng mga pinaka-kailangan ng mga kababayan natin. Hindi natin ikakatwiran sa kanila na weekend, walang bangko. Ang tulong dapat agad dumating. Kumbaga sa boy scout, dapat laging handa,” he said.

 

Secretary Tugade is joined by fellow Ilocano, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III, DOTr Undersecretary for Aviation Manuel Antonio Tamayo, Assistant Secretary for Procurement Giovanni Lopez and officials from CAAP, PCG, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), and MARINA.

Top 7 Hacks for Every Student Who Wants to Travel Around the Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!

There are so many beautiful places around the Philippines: Boracay, Mactan, Chocolate Hills. The list goes on and on. Visiting the Philippines should definitely be on your bucket list.

Despite having a rather unstable political situation in the country, the Philippines continues to be a very desirable location for tourists. According to Statista, the number of travelers to the Philippines will rise up to 4.3 million by the year 2021. But besides being a very touristy place, the Philippines are a rather distant place and pretty expensive to travel to.

But how can you afford traveling to this paradise if you’re a student on a budget? Let’s take a look at the top 7 hacks for every student who wants to travel around the Philippines and not spend the whole fortune on it.

#1 Plan Your Journey Ahead

Traveling to the Philippines is a very exciting event. However, it can definitely be spoiled by the bad weather forecast. The Philippines have a rather unstable weather with rains and storms regularly flooding the island. Just take a look at the weather forecast for the second week of September 2018:

Despite rather warm temperatures, the Philippines often have storms coming around, so make sure that your trip doesn’t coincide with a rainy period on the islands.

#2 Find Cheaper Tickets

If you’re a student traveling to the Philippines on a budget, you should start saving from the very beginning. Luckily, there are plenty of websites that can help you find cheaper plane tickets. Here are the most popular ones:

Google Flights: of course, Google is a go-to website that can show you the most affordable flights. You can choose the best option by using various filters.

Skyscanner: besides having standard filters to find the cheapest flight, this website also allows you to find one from the airport nearby. This website can also help you find the cheapest hotel and other traveling services.

CheapFlights: with many options to find a cheap flight to Manila, this website also has cheap vacation packages, so make sure to also check this section. Sometimes there are some pretty good offers there.

Tip! If you really want to save some money on a flight to the Philippines, be ready to monitor these websites several times each day. Good offers come and go pretty quickly, so make sure that you catch them right on time.

#3 Pack Comfortable Clothes

Pack your bags smartly: the Philippines have a fast-changing weather, so make sure that you have clothes for every occasion. Alison Gibson, an HR manager at Proessaywriting and an avid traveler, advises not to pack heels and tight clothes: “Unless you’re having a job meeting or something, the Philippines are not the place to showcase your high heels or tight jeans. You’ll be commuting a lot, so make sure that you wear comfortable clothes.”

As you’ve seen on the picture with the forecast above, you’ve probably noticed that it’s usually pretty warm there. So bring only comfortable and simple clothes with you to make sure that you won’t sweat too much. 

#4 Learn Safety Lessons

Despite being a very beautiful location to travel to, the Philippines are a rather unsafe place for tourists. There are some things you should know before you go out to explore the city streets:

Don’t bring all your money with you. There will be many pickpockets around you. But if you do need to carry all your money, insert cash in some other parts of your clothing, like shoes, socks or a bra.

Don’t wear headphones in public. You need to be aware of your surroundings.

Learn about the most common tourist scams before going to the Philippines, like fake travel agents and fake goods. 

#5 Choose Accommodation Smartly

The housing can be pretty expensive around the Philippines. A dorm room for a backpacker can cost you up to $18 a night. However, there are a lot of other cheaper options for a student on a budget, including:

Dorms outside Manila. Choose accommodation outside the city center. You can find a cheaper option, for example, in Palawan, where there are dorm beds for only $5 a night.

Go local! Some locals will gladly offer you a room at a cheaper price. But make sure that you choose a trustworthy host.

If you want an unusual experience, choose to stay in a shack on the beach. Such an option can cost you around $2 a night. Of course, make sure that the weather is warm and clear. 

#6 Go for Cheap Food and Drinks

When in the Philippines, don’t be afraid to try street food and drinks. Food is an integral part of the Filipino culture, with every local reportedly eating up to 5 meals a day!

Trying some street food will cost you only $1. If you decide to eat in a café or a restaurant, be ready to pay up to $20 depending on a location you choose. Food and drinks can cost you some fortune, so make sure you spend your money smart. 

#7 Choose Cheaper Activities and Transportation

When traveling around the Philippines, make sure that you use public transportation. Stick to ferries, if you have some time and travel on a budget. Use long-distance buses if you need to go to a distant location.

While in the Philippines, you’ll spend most of your budget on activities. For example, diving with the sharks can cost you up to $25 dollars. However, you can choose snorkeling: hiring a snorkeling gear can cost you only $5 max. To save on the activities, try to bargain: the chances are that the owner will give in and you’ll get to save some cash. 

Wrapping Up

Traveling to the Philippines is a must-do for every student! Hopefully, these tips will help you plan your journey smartly in order to enjoy every minute of it. 

Author info:

Tom Jager is professional blogger. He works at A-writer. He has degree in Law and English literature. Tom has written numerous articles/online journals. You can reach him at G+ or Facebook.

Super Panalo Deals and More as Globe and Puregold Celebrate 917 Day!

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Shoppers get the best deals from September 15 to 17, 2018

September always marks the start of the long Pinoy holiday season—malls start playing Christmas carols long before Halloween decorations are even up. This year, it’s also the month to mark Puregold Price Club Inc. delivering the best in value and service to Filipino families for the last 20 years.

For the second year in a row, the country’s leading telco joins forces with the country’s top supermarket chain to give you even more panalo deals. Globe Telecom and Puregold have partnered up for the best 917 Day yet! Loyal customers can expect exciting rewards and exclusive offers ranging from discounts to load value.

Mark your calendars for 917 Day and join Puregold as they celebrate their 20th anniversary with special promos for Globe users! For mobile customers, get FREE P17 load when you buy any Globe or TM SIM from 9:17 A.M. to 9:17 P.M. on September 17, 2018. For broadband customers, enjoy FREE P200 load and tumbler for every purchase of a Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi from September 15 to 17, 2018 in participating Puregold branches.

Globe and Puregold have been solid partners, supporting Puregold’s Aling Puring members attain savings and achieve their dream businesses. In 2013, Globe and Puregold launched the Aling Puring Super Suki SIM, a multi-function SIM card with exclusive deals that also enables members to sell prepaid loads as an additional source of income.

To date, there are 159,000 Active Super Suki SIM sari-sari store owners and micro-entrepreneurs who have benefitted from the perks of the card. Besides the Aling Puring Super Suki Sim, Puregold shoppers also enjoy other convenient Globe services like Cash in/out, Remittances, Bills Payment, just to name a few.

From the start of the partnership, both Globe and Puregold have always believed in inspiring families to realize their dreams and in supporting Filipino entrepreneurs sustain their dream businesses. Celebrating 917 Day is an example of this shared vision. It is a happy reminder of the commitment to help enrich the lives of Filipino families through communication technology—and with services and features that are both user-friendly and relevant to the times.

Stay tuned to the latest news and promos by following Globe on Facebook and Twitter.