NEGROS Occidental province has been placed on full alert status by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. on Wednesday as he called for prayers for the province to be spared from Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ (international codename: Haiyan) expected to enter the country on Thursday.
Marañon said he has already directed all the mayors to be on alert, and to prepare evacuation centers and relief goods.
"We should pray to the Lord to spare the province from the super typhoon. We should pray that the typhoon changes its direction so that it won't hit the province," the governor said.
John Eric Villaluna, chief of the Provincial Disaster Management Program Division, directed local disaster risk management councils in Negros Occidental to revisit their contingency plans on typhoon and flooding.
Moreover, Marañon said the province is ready to release its calamity fund, and its rescue equipment are also in place.
He said the suspension of classes would depend on the status of the typhoon.
Based on forecast of Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), if the typhoon does not change its direction, it is expected to pass northern Negros on Friday.
In Bacolod, the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) advised Bacolodnons to also brace for Yolanda.
“We have to prepare for what seems to be one of the biggest typhoons of 2013,” Mayor Monico Puentevella said.
Still, Puentevella said he is grateful that Bacolod is blessed to have been spared from recent natural disasters, particularly the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that devastated Bohol last Oct. 15.
The CDRRMO, headed by chief of staff Cesar Villa, is monitoring the path of the typhoon.
Both Puentevella, and Villa, who now acts as the official spokesperson of the CDRRMO, advised the Bacolodnons not to panic.
“Act normal unless announcements are made. The entire City Hall is ready and we are prepared to face this one big fight against Yolanda,” the mayor said.
The City Government has tapped volunteer rescue groups to assist the Bacolod City Police Office, City Health Office, and Department of Education in carrying out evacuation and rescue efforts.
Meanwhile, DRRMO volunteer Rufino Alcala said he sees the revival of the Coordinated Disaster Emergency Monitoring Committee, or C.O.D.E. Monico, named after the city mayor. (TDE/NLG)