Cebu stays alert
Not taking any chances, some local government units in Cebu have cancelled today’s classes and stepped up their preparations for tropical storm Urduja that is expected to make landfall in Eastern Samar this morning.
In its severe weather bulletin issued at 5 p.m. yesterday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) hoisted Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 1 on the following areas: northern Cebu, including Bantayan Island, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Romblon, Northern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Capiz, Aklan, and northern Iloilo.
Residents in these places should stay alert for possible flashfloods, landslides, and other eventualities as rains and winds of up to 60 kilometers per hour are expected to pummel them within 36 hours after the warning was issued.
At 4 p.m. yesterday, Urduja (international name Kai-tak) was estimated at 85 km east southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar with maximum winds of 65 kph and gustiness of up to 90 kph. It was forecast to move westward at 7 kph.
Urduja is predicted to make landfall at these locations: in the vicinity of Borongan City, Eastern Samar (this morning); 90 km east northeast of Roxas City, Capiz (Saturday morning); 160 km northeast of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (Sunday morning); and 155 km west northwest of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (Monday morning).
CLASS SUSPENSIONS
In Cebu, Governor Hilario Davide III yesterday signed Executive Order No. 26 suspending classes in pre-school and elementary levels in all public and private schools across the province yesterday and today due to the tropical storm.
According to the order, suspension of classes in high school level is left to the discretion of the school principal or the local chief executive.
However, Baltazar Tribunalo Jr., head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDDRMO), recommended cancelling classes in all levels to ensure the safety of students, especially those who have to cross rivers from their homes to schools.
As of 7 p.m. yesterday, the local governments of Medellin and Daanbantayan towns in northern Cebu and Mandaue City had decided to cancel classes up to high school.
“Due to Tropical Storm Urduja, Mayor Joven Mondigo Jr. has declared suspension of classes on Friday, December 15, 2017 covering all public and private pre-school, kindergarten, elementary, high school and senior high schools,” read the notice posted on the official Facebook account of Medellin.
In Daanbantayan, Mayor Vicente Loot also issued a memorandum suspending classes in the town today, saying the move was part of the preparedness measures of the Office of the Civil Defense.
Loot said the class suspension was also strongly advised by the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council because of the expected heavy rains.
Even Mandaue City, which is situated relatively far from the north, also did the same thing.
“In light of information from PAGASA that we are expecting between 50100mm of rainfall over the next 24 hours, I have decided to cancel public school classes up to the high school level. Private schools are encouraged to cancel classes as management deems appropriate,” Mandaue City Mayor Luigi Quisumbing said in a statement.
“All emergency services and engineering crews are hereby placed on red alert status until the weather disturbance has cleared the Philippine Area of Responsibility,” he added.
PREPARATIONS
According to Tribunalo, the PDRRMO is now on orange alert status, meaning equipment and responders are on standby in case emergencies happen in the towns and cities.
Though only northern Cebu was placed under a typhoon signal, Tribunalo reminded residents in other parts of Cebu not to be complacent, especially those living in areas identified prone to landslides and flashfloods like Argao, Alcantara, Alcoy, Ronda, Malabuyoc, Barili, Pinamungajan, Toledo, Balamban, Asturias, Danao City, Liloan, and Mandaue City.
In northern Cebu, where super typhoon Yolanda also made landfall three years ago, disaster offices are now on alert 24/7.
Gemma Maria Villamor, Medellin disaster officer, said all 19 barangays have been alerted to report immediately to the municipal disaster office any untoward incidents that may occur during the next couple of days.
Preparations were also being done in the neighboring San Remigio town. Felixarpe Cabahug, a municipal responder, noted that they are reporting round-the-clock and readying evacuation centers.
In Bogo City, disaster officer Ben Fredrick Rodriguez said there was so far no need for preemptive evacuation but they are constantly monitoring with PAGASA since northern Cebu is on yellow alert status, which means landslides and flooding are possible.
Asked on the weather condition in the city as of early evening yesterday, Rodriguez said: “Ginagmay nga ulan ra man. Naay gamay nga hangin, usahay hinay, usay kasarangan.”
STRANDED
While Urduja has yet to make landfall, its effects were already felt in Cebu yesterday with the Philippine Coast Guard barring sea vessels from travelling.
According to PCG Cebu Commander Jerome Cayabyab, at least 21 sea vessels bound for Ormoc City, Camotes, Bantayan Island, Palompon in Leyte, and Hagnaya in San Remigio were grounded, leaving at least 350 passengers stranded.
These passengers, he said, opted to return to their respective homes and were entitled to a refund from shipping companies. Others, though, especially those who came from far places, stayed overnight at the port terminals.
Cayabyab shared that OceanJet 10 fastcraft which had left the port of Cebu City for Camotes at 6 a.m. yesterday returned some two hours later after encountering big waves mid-sea.
Boat trips to Malapascua Island, a popular tourist destination in Daanbantayan, were also cancelled yesterday, according to Mayor Loot.
In neighboring regions, the situation was no different.
The PCG reported that around 4,000 passengers in various ports in Eastern Visayas and Bicol were also stranded after sea trips in these regions were cancelled.
Coast Guard data showed that at least 2,467 passengers were stranded in the Port of Matnog in Sorsogon and 326 passengers in Port of Tabaco in Bicol.
In Eastern Visayas, 114 were stranded in the Port of Jubusan, 258 in the Port of San Isidro, and 298 in the Port of Looc.
In these two regions, 34 vessels, 561 rolling cargoes, and 25 motor boats were stranded.
Cayabyab advised fishermen and others with small sea vessels not to venture out into the sea due to moderate to rough waters.
Meanwhile, aside from urging residents staying in danger zones to stay in safe areas, the PDRRMO also reminds people attending Christmas parties to always ensure their safety.
“Mohangyo ko nga minus-minusan ang dugay mahuman and at the same time ang kanang pag-take og ilimnong makahubog, dili ra diri sa siyudad but adto pud sa kabukiran, ilabi na kung molabang og sapa kay basig madisgrasya ta,” Tribunalo said.