ILOILO City – Classes in various parts of Western Visayas are suspended today as the region braces for tropical depression “Samuel.”
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) also suspended the trips of sea vessels.
The safety of students is a priority, according to the local chief executives in this city, Guimaras, Antique, and Negros Occidental.
In Iloilo City, the class suspension covers preschool, elementary and secondary levels (including senior high school), both public and private, according to Mayor Jose Espinosa III.
“Samuel” is forecast to make a landfall 40 km west southwest of this city this morning.
Iloilo City had been under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 1 since Monday night. City residents and those in Iloilo and Guimaras provinces were warned of heavy rains that may trigger flooding and landslides.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration yesterday, “Samuel” was moving west-northwestward at 20 kph with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 65 kph.
Barangay disaster risk reduction and management committees were instructed to activate their respective operations centers, raise the alert status and conduct disaster preparedness measures, said City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head Donna Magno.
PASSENGERS STRANDED
Sea travel in various parts of Western Visayas was suspended yesterday morning after the entire region was placed under Signal No. 1.
Lieutenant Commander Ramil Palabrica, spokesperson of the coastguard in the region, said 321 passengers were stranded in various seaports in Panay Island.
As of 1 p.m., 121 passengers were stranded at the Dumangas Port in Dumangas, Iloilo after trips of five roll-on, roll-off vessels plying the Dumangas – Bacolod City route were cancelled.
There were 75 stranded passengers at the Lapuz Wharf in Iloilo City; 50 at the Caticlan Jetty Port in Malay, Aklan; 35 at the Estancia Port in Estancia, Iloilo; 24 at the New Iloilo Ferry Terminal in Iloilo City; 10 at the Culasi Port in Roxas City; and six at the RJL Pier in Caluya, Antique.
Palabrica said they conveyed this information to the 24/7 operation center of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council and the various local government units concerned so these could assist the passengers.
Meanwhile, Palabrica said motorboat trips the Iloilo City – Guimaras route and vice versa, and trips from Caticlan, Malay, Aklan to Boracay Island continued yesterday.
These were “special areas” due to the short distance of the trips (only about 15 minutes), he explained.
The suspension of sea trips won’t be lifted while the region remains under storm warning signal, according to Palabrica.
He further advised small fishermen to avoid venturing into the sea.
MORE CLASS SUSPENSIONS
In Guimaras, Gov. Samuel Gumarin ordered class suspensions in all levels, both public and private, through Executive Order No. 74.
In Antique, classes are suspended in five towns – San Jose de Buenavista, Belison, Tibiao, Sibalom, and Patnongon – from preschool to secondary level.
But Antique Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) chief Broderick Train said, “We expect other towns to also declare suspension of classes.”
The PDRRMO is closely monitoring towns from Patnongon to Anini-y, the identified track of the typhoon, said Train.
In San Jose de Buenavista yesterday, Mayor Elmer Untaran convened the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to lay out a preparation plan.
Meanwhile, the Quick Response Team of the Antique Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) readied food packs for families that would be displaced.
“We still have remaining food packs from the previous typhoon ‘Ompong,’” said Rebecca Lotilla, social worker at the PSWDO.
Most of the 1,500 food packs prepared for “Ompong” were unused, she said.
In Negros Occidental, a number of cities and municipalities suspended classes yesterday, with some extending it up to today.
In Bacolod City, Mayor Evelio Leonardia declared the suspension of preschool classes in both public and private schools after meeting with officials of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Department of Education Division of Bacolod City.
Silay City under Mayor Mark Golez also suspended classes in preschool while Bago City headed by Mayor Nicholas Yulo has no classes in both pre-school and elementary levels.
In Talisay City, Mayor Nilo Jesus Antonio Lizares III ordered the suspension of classes from preschool to high school and in San Carlos City, where “Samuel” is expected to make a landfall, Mayor Gerardo Valmayor suspended classes in preschool and elementary school levels yesterday.
Others that suspended classes E.B. Magalona, Valladolid, Binalbagan, La Castellana, Toboso, Calatrava, Victorias and Cadiz. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
