Thursday, December 14, 2006 Seniang threatens Negros, Bacolod By Roberto L. Bacasong
AS TROPICAL storm Seniang is projected to hit the Visayas region over the weekend, six towns and cities in Negros Occidental were advised to take precautionary measures against a possible mudflow from Mt. Kanlaon and flooding in low-lying areas.
Provincial Disaster Management Team (PDMT) Head Vicfran Defante issued the advisories to the Municipal Disaster Coordinating Councils (MDCC) of Murcia, La Castellana and Moises Padilla towns and to the City Disaster Coordinating Councils (CDCCs) of San Carlos, Bago and La Carlota.
This as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit has been postponed to January next year in the light of the incoming storm, an organizer said Friday.
The storm is expected to hit Cebu province over the weekend when leaders of the 10-member Asean would be flying in for the summit. It would be held on Monday and Tuesday, followed by the second East Asia summit on Wednesday. The ministerial meetings however will go as scheduled.
Disaster readiness
In advising local government units (LGUs) to be extra cautious, Defante said calamities can be greatly minimized.
"The heavy rains and strong winds that goes with Seniang might trigger a mudflow and endanger these localities," he said.
He also directed the MDCC chairmen, the Civil Defense Deputized (CDD) coordinators, rescue heads, Kabalikat Civico, Groano, city/municipal social welfare officers and other local disaster and coordinating council members, to be on alert status Saturday until Monday or until there is a threat from the tropical storm.
On the other hand, PDMT Assistant Head John Villaluna said all towns and cities in the province are prone to flooding except for Don Salvador Benedicto.
"We are all ready," Villaluna said as he advised Negrenses to be updated on weather reports.
As of 4 p.m. Friday, Seniang was estimated to be 550 kilometers east-southeast of Guian, Eastern Samar. It has maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center, and a gustiness of up to 100 kph.
"Seniang is expected to be at 70 kms east southeast of Guian, Eastern Samar. By Saturday, it will be at 80 kms West of Roxas City and 360 kms west northwest of Coron, Palawan," Defante said.
Postponed
Meanwhile, the Asean Summit has been postponed to January next year due to the storm, an organizer said.
"But all the ministerial meetings will proceed as scheduled," said Domingo Lucinario, a member of the Philippine Government's organizing committee, referring to prior discussions by foreign ministers and other officials. However, no new date was announced.
Last week, hundred of Filipinos died when super typhoon Reming hit the provinces in the Bicol region. The storm has caused power interruptions and evacuation of thousands of residents in the region.
Reming knocked out electricity in the provinces of Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and Quezon. It also left millions of pesos damage in the agricultural properties, infrastructures, houses, among others.
