RED Alert status has been raised in the province of Negros Occidental since Tuesday, November 20, for possible effects of Tropical Depression Samuel.
In a memorandum to all Local Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Councils (LDRRMC) and operation centers, acting Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson stated that on the basis of the Provincial Disaster Risk and Management Council Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment and Emergency Response and Preparedness Meeting and in order to maximize coordination, monitoring and response the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) Operation Center status is hereby raised to red alert.
All district hospitals are also advised to put alert status to “code blue.”
As of 7 a.m. Wednesday, November 21, Negros Occidental is still under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal (TCWS) Number 1.
State weather bureau, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Samuel, packing maximum winds of up to 55 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center and gusts of up to 65 km/h, made a landfall early today over the southern portion of Eastern Samar.
As of press time, Zeaphard Gerhart Caelian, head of the PDRRM Division, said heavy rains are not yet affecting the province.
"We have to closely monitor since it carries moderate to heavy rains,” Caelian said.
Intermittent rains have been monitored in some parts of the province, Caelian said.
"Local government units are reminded to really prepare. Although it's not a strong typhoon, the governor always reminds us to pray and to prepare," Caelian stressed.
The emergency response and preparedness meeting Tuesday, was attended by the Philippine National Police, Provincial Health Office, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), Red Cross, and other concerned agencies.
Relative to the red alert status of the Disaster Response Cluster in the province, LGUs are also advised to prepare for preemptive evacuation when necessary.
Lacson is also urging the Negrenses to be alert and prepare for the typhoon.
“Let us cooperate and listen to the instructions of our respective chief executives, especially when there's a need for evacuation,” Lacson said.
Caelian meanwhile also identified Silay, Victorias and EB Magalona as flood-prone areas, as well as Valladolid, Pontevedra, San Enrique and Pulupandan in the Fourth District and Kabankalan and Ilog in the Sixth District.
Landslide areas, he said, are Sipalay City, Salvador Benedicto, Silay City, San Carlos City, Murcia, and Hinobaan.
The PSWDO has already food packs on standby and packing has been ongoing.
Trips of fastcrafts and other sea vessels have also been suspended by the Philippine Coast Guard since Monday, November 19.
Several LGUs have also suspended classes since Tuesday until Wednesday when the typhoon is already expected to be out of the province.
In Bacolod City, classes in all levels, both public and private schools, in Bacolod City are suspended.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia, citing Presidential Executive Order No. 66, issued an Executive Order suspending the classes Wednesday after consulting with the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), DILG, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) and Department of Education (DepEd).
Leonardia said he talked with Executive Assistant Jose Maria Vargas, cluster head for CDRRMO, for assessing the situation in Bacolod.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and we will make further announcements as needed,” Leonardia said.