ILOILO City – Residents of Western Visayas, especially those in flood and landslide-prone areas, have been urged by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) to stay vigilant and ready to evacuate due to the anticipated heavy rains brought by Tropical Storm “Enteng” (international name: “Yagi”) , which is enhancing the southwest monsoon.
Though “Enteng” is not expected to pass directly over Western Visayas – its trajectory is Luzon – heavy rains could still occur due to the enhanced monsoon.
OCD Region 6 director Raul Fernandez, speaking to Panay News on Monday morning, stressed the importance of monitoring weather forecasts closely, particularly for thunderstorm advisories that often lead to severe rainfall.
“We must always be ready, especially in flood-prone areas, to evacuate if necessary,” Fernandez said.
The advisory follows the region being placed under a “blue alert status” on Sunday, September 1, in response to the combined effects of “Enteng” and the southwest monsoon.
Fernandez issued an order to all provincial / city / municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (DRRMOs) to enhance and strictly monitor local conditions.
“This heightened monitoring level requires local government units and DRRMOs down to the barangay level to activate their emergency responders and stay alert. They must also report any incidents to our office,” Fernandez explained.
However, Fernandez clarified that the region has been on a prolonged blue alert status due to past events such as the eruption of Mount Kanlaon on Negros Island and the recent capsizing of two motorbancas in Caluya, Antique, which resulted in three deaths and seven missing persons.
“There have been no reports of stranded passengers or sea trip cancellations so far,” Fernandez added.
He also noted a rise in river water levels in the province of Antique following heavy rainfall, leading to class suspensions across almost all local government units on Monday.
Further inquiries are ongoing about a temporary halt of four-wheel vehicle traffic on Oyungan Bridge in Miag-ao, Iloilo, on Sunday afternoon due to overflow, though operations resumed by Sunday night.
Fernandez said OCD-6 is prepared to assist those affected by the typhoon and monsoon, with relief goods prepositioned in strategic areas across the region and transportation assets ready to support local government units as needed.
“Enteng” was last spotted 115 kilometers northeast of Infanta, Quezon, or 85 kilometers east southeast of Baler, Aurora, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in its 11 am bulletin on Monday.
The tropical storm is moving northwest at the same speed of 15 kilometers per hour (km/h).
It continues to have maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h and gustiness of up to 90 km/h./PN
