NEGROS Occidental, including Bacolod City, remained on alert for continued monitoring after the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) lifted the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal Number 1 in Negros provinces by 11 a.m. Monday.
Tropical Depression Auring has already weakened into low pressure area.
Zeaphard Gerhart Caelian, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Division, said they still monitor the weather condition, and also advised local disaster offices to remain on alert and place their responders on stand-by.
He said light to moderate rains have been reported across the province, especially in southern Negros Occidental.
Caelian said that some residents of Barangay 1 in Kabakalan City were stranded after the waters in Lugway-Ilog River and Hilamonan Creek overflowed due to the rains brought by “Auring” worsened by a poor drainage system.
The local response team assisted the stranded residents.
Moreover, Caelian said the Response Committee of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council held a meeting yesterday to ensure that everything that would be needed, including relief goods and medical supplies, is in place.
In Bacolod, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) remained at alert level 2 to monitor low-lying areas for possible flooding.
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran presided the meeting of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Monday, with Jose Maria Vargas, cluster head for disaster management, to discuss monitoring of flood-prone areas.
Also present were representatives of the CDRRMO, Bacolod City Police Office, Department of Education, Department of Social Services and Development, and City Engineer’s Office.
Aaron Bais, incident commander of CDRRMO, said they have instructed barangay responders to plan out their actions.
“We called on the barangay officials to activate their barangay risk and reduction management councils,” Bais said.
Relief goods and medicines are being prepared by the Department of Social Services and Development and the City Health Office.
Meanwhile, trips of fast crafts and roll-on-roll off vessels from Bacolod City and Negros Occidental also resumed at 11 a.m., according to the Coast Guard Station-Bacolod.
About 120 passengers bound for Iloilo waited at the BREDCO port in Bacolod Monday morning until the ban on sea travel was lifted. (With reports from PNA)