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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO City – Tropical depression “Marce’” forced the suspension of classes in public and private elementary and high schools in this city yesterday.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG-Iloilo) also suspended the trips of Iloilo roll-on, roll-offs (ro-ro) ships and fast crafts bound for Bacolod City.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) placed Western Visayas, Negros Island and other parts of the Visayas under storm signal No. 1 yesterday.
“‘Marce’ has not yet brought heavy rains to the city but by way of a preemptive measure, suspension of classes is highly called for so as to ensure the safety and welfare of school children,” stressed Mabilog.
Lieutenant Commander Ramil Palabrica, PCG-Iloilo commander, said the suspension of sea travel became effective at 6 a.m.
Motorboats plying the Iloilo-Guimaras route were allowed to make trips but only until 6 p.m. yesterday and with only 75 percent of their total passenger capacity.
Palabrica also urged fishermen to refrain from setting out to sea.
Pagasa said “Marce” was packing top sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of 55 kph.
It was expected to make landfall over Surigao del Norte last night around seven o’clock.
Rains within the storm’s 200-kilometer radius was already affecting a large portion of Visayas and Mindanao, prompting Pagasa to raise public storm signal No. 1 in various provinces and cities.
An estimated 600 Bacolod City-bound people were stranded at the seaport here around noon yesterday.
Palabrica said PCG-Iloilo’s response groups were placed on alert.
In suspending classes, Mabilog cited Section 16 in relation to Section 455 of the Local Government Code of 1991 – local chief executives are empowered to execute emergency measures before, during and in the aftermath of man-made and natural disasters and calamities so as to ensure the safety and welfare of the people.
Classes in the tertiary level were subject to the discretion of their principals or school administrators, Mabilog clarified.
Winds of 30 to 60 kph were expected to whip the Visayas in the next 36 hours, said Pagasa yesterday.
Residents in low-lying and mountainous areas were warned of possible landslides and flashfloods.
“Marce” is not expected to intensify further into a typhoon. If it continues moving west northwest at 17 kph, it may leave the Philippine area of responsibility Monday morning, said Pagasa./PN
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