Gov't alarmist? Better safe than sorry: Palace

MANILA, Philippines - Super Typhoon "Yolanda" battered several parts of the country on Friday but Malacañang assured the government continues to be "proactive" in times of calamities.

"What we in government have been doing is to be proactive. We are giving information to the public in advance so they can make informed choices and prevent loss of lives," Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Sonny Coloma said in a press briefing.

But as for some claims that the government was alarmist in its warnings and preparations for Yolanda, Coloma said it is "better safe than sorry."

"Masyado pong mahalaga ang buhay ng bawat mamamayang Pilipino, kaya kung may maililigtas tayo na kahit isang karagdagang buhay, mahalaga na po iyon, hindi po ba?" he said.

Super Typhoon Yolanda, dubbed as the strongest tropical cyclone to hit the country and possibly the world strongest this year, made landfall over Eastern Visayas early Friday morning.

In a televised address on Thursday evening, President Benigno Aquino III himself told the nation to brace for the typhoon, which he said poses serious threat.

"This is a very real danger, and we can mitigate and lessen its effects if we use the information available to prepare," Aquino said.

Malacañang said the government had conducted preemptive actions with the early evacuation of some 26,675 families or 125,604 people in potential danger zones.

Coloma said agencies remain on full alert while the Department of Social Welfare and Development has provided an additional P53.24 million for relief operations for thos affected by the typhoon.

But while the government has aimed for zero casualties, at least three people have been killed in the wake of the super typhoon.

As of 3 p.m., the eye of the typhoon was located offshore Tibiao, Antique. It has made multiple landfalls as it pounded several areas in the Visayas.

Moving west northwest at 40 kilometers per hour, Yolanda is expected to exit the Philippine landmass this evening.