Roxas: Public could start donating to communities to be affected by ‘Ruby’

Secretary Roxas ordered all personnel of the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, the Bureau of Fire Protection, regional offices of the DILG, and of the LGUs in areas forecast to be affected by ‘Ruby’ to be on heightened alert and cancel their leaves of absence to ensure the safety of the people (Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines’ Facebook page)

MANILA — The public could start donating food, medicines and cloths to people to be affected by Typhoon Ruby in Eastern Visayas, Interior and Local government Secretary Mar Roxas said on Saturday.

“Sa ating mga kababayan na gustong tumulong, ang DSWD ay may central packing warehouse … nandiyan ito sa Manila,” he told dzRB Radyo Ng Bayan on Saturday.

“Alam naman natin kung ano ‘yung mga pangangailangan: noodles, de lata, kandila, baterya, blanket, banig, of course, bigas—although ang NFA ay punung-puno ng bigas ngayon, … iyan ang mga pangangailangan.”

Typhoon affected communities will appreciate tarpaulin, dry clothes, jackets, plastic or other useful materials from the public, he said.

Roxas is in Eastern Samar to oversee government preparations ahead of Typhoon Ruby’s landfall on Sunday morning.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), according to Roxas, made a projection that Typhoon Ruby will bring intensive rains so people must be evacuated to safe areas.

Roxas also said that his office will coordinate with Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman and PAGASA. Soliman is in DSWD’s Cebu headquarters to immediately respond to whatever need on the ground, he said.

Typhoon Ruby, with a sustained wind of 240 kph, is expected to make landfall in Eastern Visayas around 2 a.m. Sunday.