BACOLOD City – The city government has raised its disaster preparedness to blue alert status beginning yesterday, July 16, following the issuance of a yellow rainfall warning, which later escalated to orange rainfall warning for July 17 and 18, due to the southwest monsoon.
Dr. Ana Maria Laarni Pornan, head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) first issued a yellow rainfall warning that included Negros Occidental. Flood is likely due to potential heavy rains in cities, low-lying areas, and near rivers and coastal zones.
Pornan explained that while the yellow warning was in effect yesterday, an orange warning was expected for the next two days, prompting the CDRRMO to raise the city’s alert level to blue.
Under the alert system, the white alert signifies normal operations with low-level readiness. Blue alert indicates heightened readiness, requiring increased personnel presence and emergency preparations, while the red alert represents the highest alert level, demanding full mobilization, round-the-clock monitoring, and immediate response.
Pornan called on residents, especially those in flood-prone and coastal barangays, to remain vigilant and evacuate to safer areas if necessary.
“We are coordinating with barangays, especially in flood-prone and coastal areas, to prepare for pre-emptive evacuations,” Pornan said.
“Indi na maghulat magtaas pa ang tubig kay delikado ini para sa community kag sa mga responders,” she emphasized.
The most flood-prone barangays in the city include barangays Sum-ag, Punta Taytay, Pahanocoy, Singcang-Airport, and Tangub in south Bacolod, and Bata, Banago, Mandalagan, Barangays 1, 3, 8, 10, 17, 18, and Villamonte in north Bacolod.
Meanwhile, as of 11 a.m. yesterday, PAGASA reported that a low-pressure area east of Catanduanes had developed into Tropical Depression “Crising”, which could further intensify weather conditions in the coming days.
The CDRRMO continues to monitor the situation and is ready to respond to emergencies as needed, Pornan added./PN
