DUMAGUETE CITY — Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo on Tuesday suspended classes from pre-school to senior high school (SHS) levels in the province due to tropical storm “Basyang” (Sanba) which is expected to approach the province on Wednesday.
State weather bureau PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration) had placed Negros Oriental among other areas under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal (TCWS) No. 2.
With this development, Degamo ordered the suspension of classes in the said levels, citing Sec. 1 of EO 66 series of 2012 regarding the guidelines for the suspension/cancellation of classes and work in government offices, said Adrian Sedillo, the executive officer of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC).
Other local government chief executives and private schools also issued their respective advisories on the suspension of classes in different parts of the province due to “Basyang”.
St. Paul University Dumaguete (SPUD) announced that classes for Basic Education are automatically suspended as per guidelines for the suspension of classes.
Silliman University (SU) also issued an advisory that it has suspended classes up to SHS level.
SU Information Officer Mark Raygan Garcia clarified that based on guidelines on the suspension of classes, only when storm signal No. 3 is hoisted in Dumaguete shall college-level classes be suspended.
Local government units like Bayawan City and Bindoy also issued their respective advisories regarding the suspension of classes after PAGASA hoisted TCWS No. 2 over the province.
PAGASA said “Basyang” is expected to make landfall between Surigao and Dinagat province on Tuesday morning.
Areas that are under TCWS No. 2 are Bohol, Southern Cebu, Siquijor, Negros Oriental, southern Negros Occidental and Southern Leyte in the Visayas, and Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental and northern section of Bukidnon in Mindanao.
TCWS No. 1 is hoisted over Palawan including Calamian Group of Islands and southern section of Masbate, Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, the rest of Negros Occidental, the rest of Cebu, Leyte, Biliran, Samar, Eastern Samar, Zamboanga del Sur, northern section of Zamboanga del Norte, northern section of Zamboanga Sibugay, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, the rest of Bukidnon, North Cotabato, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, and the northern section of Davao Oriental.
“Basyang” packs maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness up to 80 kph. It is forecast to move northwest at 25 kph.
PAGASA said ‘Basyang’ is expected to be at 115 km west northwest of Dumaguete City on Wednesday. (Mary Judaline Partlow/PNA)
