BACOLOD City – Disaster operations centers in Negros Occidental were placed on red alert on Monday noon in preparation of the onslaught of tropical depression (TD) Lannie.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 was still hoisted over the province as of 2 p.m., based on the latest severe weather bulletin issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
Red alert is raised in anticipation of an imminent emergency situation and requires response agency staffing in the operations center and immediate inter-agency coordination.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), directed chairpersons of city and municipal DRRMCs to heighten their preparedness as well as take appropriate precautionary measures for possible flooding, flashfloods or landslides.
“Ensure waterways are clear of obstruction, review contingency plans, and mitigate possible disaster risk in your area of responsibility,” he said.
Lacson added that the province’s red alert status “will terminate upon the exit of the tropical depression or its dissipation”.
As of 2 p.m., the center of “Lannie” was over the coastal waters of Jetafe, Bohol.
As TCWS No. 1 was raised in Negros Occidental, sea travel from the province and this capital city bound for neighboring Cebu and Iloilo provinces were canceled on Monday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said in an advisory.
These included trips of roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) vessels from Bacolod City to Dumangas, Iloilo; Escalante City to towns of Tuburan and Tabuelan in Cebu; Sagay City to Tabuelan, Cebu; and San Carlos City to Toledo City, also in Cebu.
The PCG also prohibited fishing vessels in these areas from venturing out to sea.
“Resumption of trips will depend on the next weather bulletin to be issued by Pagasa,” Captain Ludovico Librilla, commander of Coast Guard Station-Bacolod, said.
Meanwhile, troops of the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade based in Murcia, Negros Occidental also geared up.
Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of 303IB, said soldiers assigned in the humanitarian assistance and disaster response teams were on alert for deployment to areas from the 1st to 5th districts of Negros Occidental.
“The Army also prepared its military field ambulances, military trucks, and utility vehicles to provide necessary mobility assistance. All military personnel trained for disaster response operations are ready for deployment and are being augmented by reservists and auxiliary units of reserve forces,” he added. (PNA)