BACOLOD City – The Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD) of Negros Occidental is on heightened alert. The province is being battered by moderate to heavy rains caused by the southwest monsoon or habagat enhanced by Tropical Depression “Dodong.”
PDMPD officer Irene Bel Ploteña said they expect rainy weather conditions to last for another week. “Dodong” already left the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) but a new low pressure area (LPA) was spotted in the eastern portion of the country.
Ploteña said the LPA is expected to directly affect Negros and also enhance the habagat.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the LPA entered PAR around noon yesterday, and it may further intensify into a tropical cyclone. It will then be called “Egay”.
Although Negros Occidental is not under “blue alert” status, all disaster risk reduction and management offices in the province have been told to be on the lookout for flash floods and landslides.
The province’s emergency response units in every district were also prepositioned to respond to emergencies, with each district getting two ambulances. (Watchmen Daily Journal)
