BACOLOD City – The city has been placed under blue alert status as a precautionary measure due to the southwest monsoon and the presence of Tropical Storm “Opong,”’ the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) announced.
According to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (Pagasa) Weather Advisory No. 19 issued on September 24, heavy rainfall ranging from 50 to 100 millimeters is expected by Friday, September 26, brought about by the enhanced southwest monsoon.
Dr. Ana Maria Laarni Pornan, head of the City DRRMO, said she hopes the alert level will not be raised further, but warned that the expected rainfall volume could still trigger flooding in low-lying areas.
“This is often categorized as heavy to stormy rain depending on the duration, so flooding is likely,” Pornan explained.
She noted that Bacolod is already under a yellow rainfall warning and advised residents in flood-prone communities to take precautionary measures to safeguard lives and property.
The DRRMO assured that continuous monitoring is being conducted to ensure public safety. The city’s Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) and designated evacuation centers are also on standby in case preemptive evacuations are required.
Pornan clarified that Bacolod is not yet under any tropical cyclone wind signal as of this writing. However, she cautioned that heavy rains could still cause flooding.
Meanwhile, the city’s Flood Control Team has begun siphoning clogged drainage systems, including those near Burgos Market, to mitigate possible waterlogging./PN
