• GILBERT P. BAYORAN / CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
The Office of Civil Defense-Negros Island Region remains on red alert status due to the Kanlaon Volcano response, while Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental Command Centers placed on blue alert status due to the continuing effects of southwest monsoon, its regional director, Donato Sermeno III disclosed yesterday.
As recommended by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, work in government offices and classes will be suspended on July 23, according to a memorandum issued by Malacañang.
However, agencies responsible for basic, vital and health services, prepared and response duties, must continue to remain operational to ensure continuity of essential government functions, it added.
While floods have already subsided in affected local government units, mostly in central and southern Negros Occidental, Sermeno said they are anticipating more rains, because of the continuing southwest monsoon.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration reported that Negros Occidental will experience moderate to heavy rain (50 to100 mm) on Wednesday.
PAGASA is closely monitoring two Low Pressure areas, one within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and another which is still outside of PAR.
Due to the forecasts of heavy rains and flooding, Cebu Pacific yesterday cancelled Manila-Bacolod-Manila flights.
OCD-NIR records indicated that there are still 1,280 families, composed of 4,156 persons, occupying 16 evacuation centers, in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, and Canlaon City, Negros Oriental.
Of those evacuees, 466 families, composed of 1,063 persons, are staying in six evacuation centers of La Castellana.
Municipal public information officer Remuel Lajo reported on Monday that two houses were destroyed, while seven others were partially damaged due to debris which originated from Kanlaon Volcano that flowed into the Tamburong Creek in Brgy. Biak-na-Bato, La Castellana.
The Negros Occidental provincial government on Monday delivered food supplies to its community kitchens at the evacuation centers in La Castellana, and the cities of La Carlota and Bago, Negros Occidental.
The 6th wave of its community kitchen will serve about 2,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) who are occupying those evacuation centers.
P5.3 million was allocated for the month-long feeding, which resumed July 22, with P2.8 million coming from Malacañang, and the rest taken from the funds of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.
BACOLOD SUSPENSIONS
Work in government offices and classes at all levels in Bacolod City are suspended today following the issuance of Office of the President Memorandum Circular No. 90 and upon recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
Government offices with essential functions such as basic, health, and disaster response services will remain operational while other agencies may continue to operate under approved alternate work arrangements.
Work suspension in the private sector is left to the discretion of their respective management.*
