Bacolod: This highly urbanized city and the province of Negros Occidental activated their respective response clusters as wind signals were raised in the entire province due to the threat of Typhoon Tino on Monday. Mayor Greg Gasataya placed the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council-Emergency Operations Center here under red alert status. ‘All disaster response clusters are activated and respective council members are directed to coordinate closely with their lead agencies to ensure readiness of resources, personnel, and response operations,’ he added.
According to Philippines News Agency, Gasataya said the city government will initiate preemptive evacuation of residents living along the coastline and low-lying areas amid the high risk of storm surge occurring within the next 36 hours. ‘We’re doing everything we can to ensure that we face this calamity prepared and equipped, with our teams on the ground, systems in place, and everyone working together to keep our city safe,’ the mayor said.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 is in effect since 2 p.m. Monday over the entire Negros Occidental, including the highly urbanized Bacolod City. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, TCWS No. 2 poses a threat of gale-force winds in speeds of 62 to 88 kilometers per hour with potential impacts of minor to moderate threat to life and property.
In Negros Occidental, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council-Emergency Operations Center is also under red alert status, but assured Negrenses that their safety and well-being is the priority of the province. ‘The provincial response clusters have been activated to handle the emergency situation,’ he added.
These included the camp coordination and camp management and provision of food and non-food items under the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, logistics supervised by the Provincial General Services Office, and search, rescue and retrieval led by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. Others given priority are health under the Provincial Health Office, law and order led by the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, and clearing and civil works under the Provincial Engineering Office.
Lacson urged residents who need to evacuate to follow evacuation orders and advised those affected to coordinate with their respective barangays and local government units (LGUs). Bacolod City along with the majority of the 31 LGUs in Negros Occidental have cancelled face-to-face classes in all levels on Monday and Tuesday. Government work has been suspended in the LGUs such as the cities of Silay, Sagay, Victorias and Bago on Monday and Tuesday while Bacolod also cancelled government work on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Negros Electric and Power Corp. also went on red alert Monday to ensure round-the-clock readiness of its personnel and facilities across its service areas in preparation for the possible impact of Typhoon Tino. Its coverage area includes the cities of Bacolod, Talisay, Silay and Bago as well as the municipalities of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto. ‘All our contingency resources are now activated. We have pre-positioned our teams, vehicles, and materials in key locations to ensure quick response and faster restoration once conditions permit,’ engineer Bernard Bailey Del Castillo, the firm’s chief operating officer and chief technical officer, said.
