MANILA (Updated 2:00 a.m.) -- The country's weather agency further placed fourteen areas in Visayas and Mindanao under public storm warning signal number 1 Wednesday night as Typhoon Haiyan is about to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that as of 10 p.m. Wednesday, Haiyan was located 1,110 kilometers (km) east of Hinatuan, Surigao Del Sur.
Pagasa said Haiyan is forecast to move west northwest at 30 kilometers per hour (kph), with maximum sustained winds of 195 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph.
Once Haiyan enters PAR, it will be locally named Yolanda, the 24th cyclone to enter PAR this year.
The typhoon is expected to enter PAR Thursday early morning (November 7) and is expected to make landfall over Samar-Leyte provinces by Friday (between 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., November 8), Pagasa said.
Pagasa hoisted storm signal number 1 over Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran Island, Camotes Island, Surigao del Norte, Siargao Island, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, and northern part of Agusan del Sur.
Pagasa said 30-60 kph winds may be expected in at least 36 hours in these areas.
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said that Aquino directed Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, head of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), to coordinate with the provincial and municipal counterparts for the implementation of the preventive measures.
"Ito ay alinsunod sa direktiba ng Pangulo na matamo ang layuning zero casualty sa ganitong kalamidad," he said.
He also appealed to the print and broadcast media to help in the information dissemination to prepare the public for the storm.
According to the NDRRMC advisory, several areas throughout the country including Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas regions, as well as Caraga and Northern Mindanao were placed under red alert due to the upcoming cyclone.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reminded the public that during Public Storm Warning Signal Number 1, all maritime vessels of any volume are not allowed to sail while all kind of shipping vessels are prohibited to travel or left the port terminal.
"Absolutely no sea travel, bawal kapag may Signal Number 1 na," Isorena said.
He also reminded the fisher folks to suspend their fishing ventures to some other time until the typhoon exits the country by Sunday.
In the Visayas, the PCG directed all coast guard stations and sub-stations to give regular advisories, particularly to operators of fishing boats and motorized bancas, during the coming typhoon.
Commodore William Melad, commander of the Coast Gurad District Central Visayas, said the fisherfolks must stop fishing. He also advised the people in various islands and islets to stay at home. (John Carlo Cahinhinan/SDR/EOB/Sunnex)