By Nanette Guadalquiver / Philippine News Agency
The Negros Occidental provincial government has encouraged local government units (LGUs) to enforce preemptive evacuation of residents occupying flood prone-areas amid the threat of heavy rains and floods brought by Typhoon Odette.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Thursday they recommend evacuation particularly in communities where a lot of households are at risk.
“We encourage that and some LGUs have started to do so. On December 14, I already issued an advisory that by December 15, they already have to be on red alert,” Lacson told reporters.
In Sagay City, some 96 families in Matabas Island of Barangay Molocaboc have already been evacuated to a school and provided relief goods as of Thursday afternoon.
As of 11 a.m., the southern and central portions of Negros Occidental have been placed under Tropical Cycle Wind Signal No. 3 while the rest of Negros Occidental is under Signal No. 2, based on the latest bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Lacson said more evacuation sites will be made available for Negrenses who will need shelter with social distancing requirements taken into consideration.
“Basically, we are prepared. It is expected to hit us starting this afternoon to early morning. The more we have to be alert, when anyone is sleeping, that’s when the typhoon will be passing by,” he added.
Lacson urged Negrenses to pray for protection from the onslaught of Typhoon Odette.
“We fervently pray that the damage will be minimal…Let’s continue to pray that no lives will be lost. I also asked (provincial veterinarian) Dr. (Renante) Decena that aside from zero casualty among humans, there should also be zero casualty among the livestock,” the governor said.
At the Provincial Capitol here, Lacson issued a memorandum, suspending work in all provincial government offices starting 2 p.m. on Thursday due to Typhoon Odette. (PNA)-rir
