NEGROS Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has ordered all City and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (DRRMOs) in the province to place their respective disaster operations centers under "red alert" status due to Tropical Depression "Lannie."
The governor also advised the public to take the appropriate measures for possible flooding and landslides.
Zeaphard Caelian, head of the Provincial Disaster Management Division (PDMPD), said the governor placed the entire Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) to "red alert" status Monday, October 4, as the province was under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal Number 1.
As of Monday afternoon, the center of Tropical Depression Lannie was estimated over the coastal waters of Guihulngan City in Negros Oriental with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 55 kilometers per hour. It was moving westward at 25 kilometers per hour.
Caelian said the whole council involves all local disaster and rescue units, including the PDMPD, Provincial Health, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, the police and military, among other offices.
The entire Western Visayas, including Negros Occidental, was also placed on alert by the Office of Civil Defense-Western Visayas.
Meanwhile, Philippine Coast Guard-Negros Occidental commander Captain Ludovico Librilla has ordered the suspension of all sea trips from Negros Occidental bound for Iloilo City, including those bound for Dumangas town from Bacolod City.
Also cancelled were trips originating from cities of Sagay, Escalante, and San Carlos bound for ports of Tabuelan, Tuburan, and Toledo City in Cebu since yesterday.
Librilla also barred all fishing vessels in the province from venturing out to the sea.
Based on the data presented by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Region, an estimated 1,111 barangays in the region may be affected by the typhoon.
The list of barangays have already been disseminated to the concerned local government units (LGUs) for their monitoring.
Caelian also said that all DRRMOs had presented their preparedness measures for the typhoon.
These include the issuance of advisories especially on raising their alert status to ensure 24/7 seamless coordination, immediate dissemination of warnings and advisories, and active monitoring of their respective areas of responsibility.
They have also ensured that they have already prepositioned their response teams, vehicles, rescue equipment, and relief goods, he added.
For Bacolod City, Mayor Evelio Leonardia urged Bacolodnons living in mountainous, coastal and low-lying areas to take precautionary measures against floods and landslides that may arise after heavy downpour.
Leonardia, in a statement, said that he ordered the DRRMO to be on standby and be ready to be deployed anytime.
Executive Assistant Joemarie Vargas, cluster head of DRRMO, said they were on alert to monitor all the areas of the city, especially in the low-lying areas.
"We are ready anytime including the evacuation, relief items among others," he said.
He said Lannie is expected to exit Tuesday afternoon, October 5, but the city should still be prepared for any eventuality.
Vargas also urged Bacolodnons to be alert and coordinate with the barangay officials as well as to the police for assistance.