Negros Occidental under ‘Blue Alert’

By Dolly Yasa

 

BACOLOD City – The province of Negros Occidental was placed on “Blue Alert” status due to the anticipated bad weather brought by Tropical Storm “Quinta.”

In an executive order issued Saturday, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson directed Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (DRRMOs) to initiate proactive measures and to take appropriate precautionary actions for possible flash floods or landslides.

Lacson also ordered the DRRMOs to review their respective contingency plans and mitigate possible risks in their respective area.

Based on an 11 am bulletin issued by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Sunday, “Quinta” was last spotted 180 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes.

The storm is moving westward at 25 kilometers per hour (kph), with maximum sustained winds of 95 kph and gusts at 115 kph.

At the time of PAGASA’s weather bulletin, the storm was forecast to make landfall over the Catanduanes-Albay-Sorsogon area afternoon or evening of October 25, with the storm expected to exit the country by Tuesday afternoon.

PAGASA has also issued a General Flood Advisory for Western Visayas instructing the DRRMOs to monitor the main river and tributaries, such as the Malogo, Sicaba, Grande, Himogaan, Danao, Upper Tabanan, Sipalay, and Lower Ilog.