THE Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (LDRRMO) of Canlaon City in Negros Oriental cleared areas of fallen trees Tuesday following strong winds and heavy rains brought about by the southwest monsoon that was enhanced by Super Typhoon Egay.
Judith Artigas, LDRRMO-Canlaon chief, said some roads and a portion of the national highway in that mountain city were rendered impassable Monday evening after some trees toppled over.
Electric wires were also cut off but personnel from the Negros Oriental Electric Cooperative I responded immediately, Artigas said.
“Nevertheless, the situation was manageable and we immediately deployed teams to do the clearing,” Artigas said.
Some evacuees were reported to have proceeded to the Matagbak Elementary School in Barangay Masulog as a pre-emptive measure, she added.
The city’s social welfare office provided food packs although Artigas said she is still awaiting a report on the total number of evacuees.
So far, no flooding or landslides were reported in Canlaon even as strong winds were still reported on Tuesday morning, Artigas said.
Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas also ordered a skeletal workforce the past two days through a memorandum order, except for those whose jobs required their presence amid a looming disaster, she added.
Meanwhile, LDRRMO chief Allen Cabaron of this capital city said except for sea trip cancellations and flooding of the Banica River, no other serious incidents were reported.
Cabaron said the coast guard office has also issued a warning to sea vessels with 250 gross tonnage and below, especially fisherfolks, to not put out to sea due to huge waves.
Some trips to and from Negros Oriental were canceled on Monday and Tuesday.
He called on residents to start pruning top-heavy trees now that the rainy season has started as he reported that one tree was toppled in outskirts of villages amid the typhoon-enhanced weather.
The PDRRMO is still consolidating data from the other local government units in Negros Oriental as of posting time. (PNA)