SOME billboard operators in Cebu City have started to take down their billboards due to the strong winds.

Councilor Dave Tumulak had requested them to temporarily do that for the safety of the public.

Tumulak, who chairs the committee on public order and safety in the City Council, said Alcordo Advertising and International Pharmaceutical Inc. were the first ones to heed his request.

Tumulak also asked motorists, particularly motorcycle drivers passing the South Road Properties, to be careful while driving as 20 to 30 kilometers per hour wind speed was recorded there yesterday.

Although there is no gale warning hoisted over Visayas, particularly in Cebu, by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), strong winds have been battering the region for several days.

Pagasa, in its 24-hour public weather forecast issued at 5 p.m. yesterday, announced that moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast with moderate to rough seas will prevail nationwide.

Cebu has also been experiencing "low temperatures" this week, which the weather bureau attributed to the high pressure area in mainland China. It's expected to last until the third week of this month.