BARANGAYS in Cebu City are told to revisit their risk assessment in their areas and declog the waterways as preparation for tropical depression Auring.
Auring has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday morning, Feb. 17, 2021.
The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) will also monitor barangays that are prone to landslide like Sapangdaku, Kalunasan and Busay and other areas near waterways, said CDRMMO officer-in-charge Ramil Ayuman.
Cebu City Councilor David Tumulak, chairman of the disaster risk reduction and management committee, said barangay officials must inform the residents living near landslide and flood prone areas of Auring so that in case of torrential rain, the residents will know what to do.
Tumulak said Auring is expected to pass Cebu this weekend before going to Iloilo.
Tumulak said barangays should prepare with their evacuation plan and logistics.
He said he will also coordinate with Councilor Jerry Guardo to take charge in declogging the city’s waterways.
Ayuman, meanwhile, will meet with the City Engineering Office for the deployment of heavy equipment.
Ayuman said the quick response team is on standby on weekends while CDRRMO personnel are ready for deployment anytime on weekend.
Meanwhile, the tail end of the frontal system which is the current weather system in Central Visayas, will bring light to moderate and at times heavy rains over Cebu.
With this, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa)-Mactan Cebu, advised the public to be alert for flashfloods and landslides.Jhomer Eclarino, Pagasa-Mactan weather specialist, said the expected wave height is between 1.2 and 3.1 meters.
At 10 a.m. on Feb. 17, Pagasa said the center of tropical depression Auring was located 900 kilometers east southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.
It has maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.
Pagasa said Auring is forecast to move generally westward or west south-westward in the next 12 hours.
Afterward, it will move generally northwestward and is forecast to make landfall over Caraga on Saturday evening or Sunday morning as tropical storm.
Eclarino said Pagasa will continue to monitor its track, including the localities in Visayas which is a potential passage of TD Auring this weekend until Monday. (JJL / WBS)