By Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA
BACOLOD CITY – Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. raised the status of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) Operations Center to blue alert on Monday in preparation for the possible onslaught of Tropical Depression (TD) Samuel.
“All city and municipal DRRMCs are advised to heighten your preparedness measures and take precautionary actions,” the governor said in a memorandum released through the Disaster Management Program Division.
Marañon also advised the local government units in Negros Occidental to activate the blue alert status in their respective operations centers and to closely monitor their areas of responsibility.
“Blue alert” requires 50 percent of concerned personnel to be in their posts at any time.
Moreover, the governor advised all district hospitals to raise the “code white” alert to ensure preparedness. The status places all hospital staff in readiness to respond to any emergency or health-related incidents.
As of 5 p.m. on Monday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has raised Tropical Cycle Warning Signal No. 1 in Negros Occidental along with Negros Oriental, Bohol, Cebu and Siquijor in Western and Central Visayas.
At 4 p.m., the center of TD Samuel was estimated at 505 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur with maximum winds of up to 55 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 65 kilometer per hour.
In Negros Occidental, “Samuel” is seen to make its sixth landfall in the northern city of San Carlos on Wednesday afternoon, if the storm maintains its course and speed.
Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Negros Occidental in its Facebook post on Monday afternoon directed all schools and field offices to implement disaster preparedness measures for the safety of school personnel, learners, and school properties.
It also advised school and government office heads to comply with the rules on the cancellation or suspension of classes and work, respectively, due to weather disturbances and calamities as well as observe the protocols and guidelines, in case schools will be used as evacuation centers.
