Guv directs local governments to brace for ‘Odette’

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson directed towns and cities in the province through their local disaster management offices to make the necessary preparations for Tropical Storm Odette.

Lacson has ordered the Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD) and the local disaster risk reduction management offices (DRRMO) in various towns and cities in the province to make the necessary preparations.

Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz said that aside from preparing for the upcoming storm the track of which is consistently towards the Visayas-Mindanao area, he is also urging Negrenses to pray that the storm spare the province and neighboring areas as well.

Diaz said the governor has advised to continue monitoring for further developments through PAGASA, and to keep on preparing for the upcoming storm which will be named “Odette” once it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

“Odette” is likely to traverse between southern Visayas and Mindanao between today and tomorrow.

PAGASA has yet to issue tropical cyclone warning signals although the Office of Civil Defense in Western Visayas had already ordered all local disaster risk reduction management offices (DRRMO) in the region to prepare.

Further forecast from PAGASA regarding the storm’s track and intensity also points that “Odette” will likely be located over the coastal waters of Cauayan town in Negros Occidental by Friday, December 17.

During that time, the storm will likely maintain its typhoon strength with maximum sustained winds of 150 kph.