SEA travels in Negros Occidental were halted Wednesday, December 15, 2021, as the province was placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 due to Typhoon Odette.
Captain Ludovico Librilla, deputy commander of Coast Guard District Western Visayas and commander of Coast Guard Station-Negros Occidental, said the initial cancelation of trips was issued as early as 5 a.m.
This, after the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) placed the neighboring Cebu Island under TCWS No. 1.
The initial routes that were affected by the cancellation of trips are the Sagay City to Tabuelan, Cebu; Escalante City to Tabuelan, Cebu; and San Carlos City to Toledo City, Cebu.
The state weather bureau then issued another advisory at 11 a.m. declaring Negros and Panay Islands under TCWS No. 1, forcing the PCG to also suspend the trips between Bacolod City and Iloilo.
Also affected by the 11 a.m. trip suspension were the routes from Bacolod City bound for Manila, Cagayan de Oro and Batangas.
The PCG is still collating the number of stranded passengers in the whole region.
Initial data issued as of 11:30 a.m. Wednesday showed that there were 57 rolling cargoes and 67 passengers stranded at the Bredco Port in Bacolod City.
Aside from the travelers, Librilla also called on local fishermen not to venture out to the sea as it would be dangerous.
The PCG's sub-stations and auxiliary units throughout the province have also been placed on "red alert" status and were told to prepare for rescue and relief operations.
Moreover, local government units (LGUs) in the southern portion of Negros Occidental have already made necessary preparations.
Cauayan town Mayor John Rey Tabujara said the town has been prepared, adding that the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRMMC) has been activated.
Evacuation centers are also in place while five flood-prone areas have been identified and alerted.
These are Barangays Guiljungan, Tiling, Poblacion, Caliling and Inayawan. Force evacuation is advised when heavy rains start, he said.
Kabankalan City Mayor Pedro Zayco, on the other hand, called an emergency meeting with all departments, offices and agencies to prepare for the major weather disturbance.
A recorida has been going around the city's major streets and different barangays informing residents to prepare for the possible onslaught of the typhoon.
The city's Command Center has been activated to coordinate activities.
The CDRRMO and Kabalikat-Civicom were in charge of the communication while food packs for those would-be evacuees will be provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
The Kabankalan City Police Station and the Bureau of Fire Protection have also prepared their rescue vehicles.
The Department of Education, for its part, will prepare the rooms for evacuation.
The Philippine Red Cross and City Health Office are also on standby for emergency cases.
In Kabankalan, flood-prone areas were identified as Sitio Panique in Barangay Binicuil, Sitio Utod in Barangay Hilamonan, and Sitio Patay and Barangay Camugao.
The landslide-prone areas are Barangay Orong and Sitio Bulad in Barangay Salong.
Zayco called on residents to be alert and monitor the weather.
"If there is a need to evacuate, please do so voluntarily," the mayor said.
In Bacolod City, some 17 public schools were also designated as evacuation centers.