VICE President Leni Robredo called on Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines to help stranded tourists in Siargao.

Robredo went to the island on Sunday, December 19, to assess the situation there after it was devastated by Typhoon Odette.

“As soon as our plane landed earlier tonight, I immediately contacted both Cebu Pacific and PAL to inform them of the situation there and to request for flights that would take the tourists out. I am grateful to both for having responded quickly,” the Vice President said.

Philippine Airlines told Robredo that it is scheduling evacuation flights.

Cebu Pacific, on the other hand, has confirmed that a flight left Siargao for Manila on December 20. It will mark the beginning of sweeper flights to transport stranded tourists in the island.

Due to the extensive damage caused by the typhoon, the Siargao Airport is closed to commercial operations until the end of January. Only military, emergency, and humanitarian flights are allowed.