Aklan placed under state of imminent danger due to 'Yolanda'

The province of Aklan has been placed under a state of imminent danger in order to prepare for the worse possible scenario as typhoon "Yolanda" is expected to hit the province Friday.

Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores said he has to issue the declaration even without the needed legislation in consonance with the chief executives of the local government units in the province.

As of this writing Thursday afternoon, a preemptive evacuation is being done in the coastal towns of New Washington, Tangalan, Kalibo, Numancia, Ibajay and Malay. Friday morning, a forced evacuation of remaining residents will be done.

"We are expecting this typhoon to be stronger than the typhoon 'Frank' in 2008 and we are targeting a zero casualty so we need the cooperation of everyone," Miraflores said.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) urged the local government units to immediately file initial assessment of damages at least six hours after the typhoon.

"We will be implementing a 'no report no support' policy here wherein a local government who fails to report initially will not be given relief and we will assume that such municipality is not harmed by the typhoon," PDRRMO officials said.