CENTRAL Visayas can expect moderate to heavy, and at times intense, rainfall on Saturday, December 19, due to the Tropical Depression Vicky.
Al Quiblat, chief of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa)-Mactan station, advised the public and authorities to be alert for possible flooding and landslide.
"Mangandam kay delikado ang pagdahili sa yuta. Gahapon prolonged rain na ni siya ang atong nasinati," he told SunStar Cebu Friday, December 18.
As of 11 a.m. Friday, the Vicky slightly slowed down as it moved closer toward the Davao Oriental and Surigao del Sur area.
The central and southern portions of Cebu including Borbon, Tabuelan, Tuburan, Sogod, Catmon, Carmen, Asturias, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Mandaue City, Lapu Lapu City, Cordoba, Balamban, Cebu City, Talisay City, Toledo City, Minglanilla, Naga City, Pinamungajan, San Fernando, Aloguinsan, Carcar City, Barili, Sibonga, Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal, Argao, Dalaguete, Badian, Alegria, Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob, Malabuyoc, Ginatilan, Samboan, Santander including Camotes Islands, Bohol, Siquijor, and Negros Oriental, among other areas in the Visayas, have been placed under storm signal number 1 as of 11 a.m.
"Expected nato ang hangin is 45 to 55 kilometers per hour (kph). Di kaayo ta mabalaka sa hangin. Ang atong kagul-an ani is ang ulan," Quiblat said.
As storm signal number 1 has been hoisted in the Visayas, including Camotes Island, the Coast Guard Station Camotes has enforced temporary suspension of voyage for all types of vessels or watercrafts regardless of tonnage as a proactive measure to avoid maritime incident.
Quiblat also said that as of 8 a.m. Friday, Pagasa issued a Yellow Warning level for Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor and Negros Oriental.
He said a yellow warning level, in terms of Heavy Rainfall Warning, implies awareness since 7.5 to 15 millimeters (mm) of rain is expected and flooding and landslide are possible.
For orange warning, 15 to 30 mm of rainfall is expected. He said this comes with the same indication that the public and the authorities should be prepared.
The highest level of warning is the Red Warning, which implies response and to take action because the expected rainfall is already beyond 30 mm.
Quiblat said that of now, they do not see a chance that Vicky will intensify into a tropical storm as it crosses the Visayas area. (WBS)