CANCELLED trips can be a worst experience. Imagine that feeling when you are very excited about going somewhere, then suddenly you’ll be asked to stay at home by your mother.
This is the case of the 301-member Davao City delegation for the 2018 Batang Pinoy National Championship. They are supposed to leave to Baguio City on Wednesday, September 13, but Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio advised to cancel the trip of the Davao Eagles as a strong typhoon – Ompong – is expected to land fall in the country.
“This is to ensure that the delegates will not be caught stranded in bad weather. We cannot compromise on the safety of the children, coaches, and support staff,” Duterte-Carpio said with a heavy heart.
She added that athletes and coaches who will pursue their travel to attend the games shall do so at their own risk.
It may be a sad directive for the athletes and coaches especially that they’ve prepared for it but it was a necessary move by the mayor given the imminent danger. Safety for Dabawenyos is, after all, her paramount concern.
It is unwise if the trip went on as flooding, rainfall, damaging winds, coastal flooding, and travel disruptions are inevitable, thus, putting the athletes’ lives at risk.
For those athletes, coaches, parents, and other sport personnel who are already in Baguio City, be safe and always be prepared.
As of 10 a.m. Friday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the eye of the typhoon was spotted at 540 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora, still packing maximum winds of 205 kilometers per hour (km/h0 near the center and gustiness of up to 255 km/h.
The typhoon is expected to make landfall in Isabela-Cagayan area by 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. Saturday, September 15. Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal Number 1 has been raised in Cagayan, including Babuyan group of Islands, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Northern Aurora and Isabela as of 10 a.m. Friday.
With the looming typhoon, we still are positive that the 2018 Batang Pinoy National Championship will be successful. Yes, the show must go on but let’s do and move with necessary precaution.