Palawan and Basilan are on high alert as China’s Long March 8A rocket is set to launch today from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan. Originally scheduled for January 25, the launch has been rescheduled for today, with a window between 9:22 AM and 10:16 AM.
In anticipation of potential falling debris, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has issued an advisory identifying three designated drop zones where rocket parts may land. The updated coordinates for these zones are as follows:
Designated Drop Zones:
- Drop Zone 1: Located approximately 85 nautical miles from Rozul Reef
- N11 54 E116 48
- N12 38 E116 14
- N12 58 E116 40
- N12 14 E117 14
- Drop Zone 2: Situated 40 nautical miles from Puerto Princesa, Palawan
- N10 19 E117 52
- N11 10 E117 14
- N11 13 E117 49
- N10 45 E118 28
- Drop Zone 3: Positioned 33 nautical miles from Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan
- N06 44 E120 37
- N07 36 E119 59
- N07 55 E120 26
- N07 04 E121 03
Government Response and Safety Measures
To ensure public safety, Director Cesar Idio, Officer-in-Charge of the Office of Civil Defense Deputy Administrator for Operations, has issued NDRRMC Memorandum Order 35 on behalf of Executive Director Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno. The order instructs the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (DENR-NAMRIA) to impose temporary navigation restrictions in the identified drop zones. Notices to Mariners, Coastal Navigational Warnings, and NAVAREA XI advisories have been recommended.
Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (RDRRMCs) in MIMAROPA and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) are closely monitoring the situation and will provide updates as needed.
Public Safety Advisory
The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) has strongly warned against approaching or retrieving any rocket debris, which may contain hazardous or toxic materials. If contact is unavoidable, wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) is advised.
Residents and mariners are urged to report any debris sightings to local authorities immediately.