ILOILO City – In a Facebook post, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 6 provided the public with reminders and advisories on what to do during a tropical cyclone.
OCD-6, along with regional, city and municipal disaster risk reduction and management Councils, remains vigilant in monitoring the developments of Tropical Storm “Kristine”.
But actually, said OCD-6 director Raul Fernandez, the entire region is already on “blue alert” status due to the restiveness of Mount Kanlaon on Negros Island and the ongoing Masskara Festival in Bacolod City.
The “blue alert” status enhances and strengthens the monitoring of any possible incidents related to eventualities such as the impact of the typhoon.
“We are on standby status. We are continuing to monitor,” said Fernandez.
The following are the reminders:
* Check the integrity of your house and repair weak parts.
* Prepare your family’s GO BAG containing items needed for survival.
* Monitor the news for weather updates and warnings.
* Know the early warning and evacuation plan of the community.
* Put livestock and pets in a safe area or designated evacuation site for animals.
* When notified, immediately go to the designated evacuation center.
Additionally, the region is under Alpha Protocol, which is activated in areas considered to be at low risk during a typhoon, said Fernandez.
This means that while these areas are monitored, they are not expected to experience severe impacts, and thus, the level of preparedness and response measures is lower compared to higher-risk areas.
Fernandez also said a Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment (PDRA) was conducted, and another PDRA session with all members of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is scheduled.
Some parts of Negros Occidental experienced flooding on Monday morning, October 21, which subsided by the afternoon.
As of 8 a.m. n Tuesday, October 22, several classes were suspended in the region, affecting 16 local government units (LGUs) in Capiz, both public and private schools.
In Iloilo province, 11 LGUs have suspended classes; in Antique, all 18 LGUs; and in Negros Occidental, 10 LGUs./PN
