THE Talisay City Government has expressed readiness for the possible effects of Tropical Depression “Amang,” the first cyclone to have entered the country’s territory this year.
Mayor Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas said despite the fact that Metro Cebu will not be directly affected by the tropical cyclone, the Talisay City Government will monitor flood-prone areas, noting that Amang might bring heavy rainfall in Cebu.
He said schools in Talisay have been given the discretion to suspend classes if necessary, so there is no need for them to wait for his order.
Alvin Santillana, head of the City of Talisay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, said that based on their monitoring, Amang will not directly affect Cebu.
But he said he has ordered his personnel to monitor the rivers in the city in case of heavy rains that might cause flooding.
“Atong problema kon mag-ulan, unya dinhia dapit sa atong Manipis, unya dili ta kabantay dinhia sa ubos og mosaka, mao na nga kinahanglan nga magbinantayon kita,” said Santillan.
(We need to monitor as water might rise in lowland areas during heavy rains.)
Talisay City has 15 barangays whose personnel have undergone basic training on disaster management.
As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 11, the center of Tropical Depression Amang was located 130 kilometers east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes, or 250 kilometers east of Daet, Camarines Norte in Luzon.
The tropical cyclone was packing maximum winds of 55 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center, gusts of up to 70 km/h, and central pressure of 1002 hPa while moving westward at 30 km/h, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal Number 1 has been hoisted over Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Quezon including Pollilo Islands, Marinduque, Ticao Island, Burias Island, Rizal, Laguna (San Pablo City, Alaminos, Calauan, Bay, Los Baños, Rizal, Nagcarlan, Victoria, Pila, Liliw, Magdalena, Majayjay, Luisiana, Cavinti, Pagsanjan, Santa Cruz, Lumban, Kalayaan, Paete, Pakil, Pangil, Siniloan, Famy, Santa Maria, Mabitac), Aurora, Bulacan (Norzagaray, Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Miguel, San Ildefonso), Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya (Kasibu, Dupax del Norte, Dupax del Sur, Alfonso Castaneda), Nueva Ecija (General Tinio, City of Gapan, Peñaranda, San Leonardo, Santa Rosa, Cabanatuan City, Talavera, San Jose City, Carranglan, Pantabangan, Llanera, General Mamerto Natividad, Rizal, Bongabon, Laur, Palayan City, Gabaldon) and Isabela (Echague, San Agustin, Jones, Dinapigue, San Mariano, San Guillermo, Palanan, Angadanan, Benito Soliven, City of Cauayan) in Luzon, and Northern Samar, Samar (Calbayog City, Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, Gandara, Santa Margarita, San Jorge) and Eastern Samar (Jipapad, Maslog, Arteche, Oras, San Policarpo, Dolores) in the Visayas. (BBT/LMY)