BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Boat trips are suspended while passengers of roll on, roll off vessels are reported stranded as Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal Number 1 is hoisted over Negros Occidental.
State weather bureau PAGASA earlier reported that Tropical Storm Kabayan has maintained its strength. Kabayan has maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 80 km/h.
Storm signals have been raised all over the country, with Negros Occidental as well as much of Visayas, almost the entire Mindanao, and certain parts of Luzon placed under TCW Signal Number 1. Certain parts of Mindanao have been placed under Storm Signal Number 2.
Meanwhile, Northern Negros Occidental Coast Guard Commander Joe Luviz Mercurio called for a suspension of boat trips in seven ports as Signal Number 1 is raised over Negros Occidental.
The following are the affected ports: Daan Bantayan via Cadiz City; Tabuelan Cebu via Sagay City and Escalante City; Toledo City, Cebu via San Carlos City; Dumangas via Bredco and Banago Ports; Bay-ang Port Ajuy via Maantangan Port in EB Magalona; Sibunag Port in Guimaras via Pulupandan Port in Pulupandan.
Physician Anna Maria Laarni Pornan, head of the Bacolod Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office meanwhile told DNX her office is checking on earlier reports that passengers of roll on, roll off vessesls remain stranded at the private BREDCO port in Bacolod City after trips to Iloilo province were suspended due to the hoisting of Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1 over Negros Occidental.
The Incident Management Team of the Capitol’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office has reported light to moderate rains in Negros Occidental province as Tropical Storm Kabayan moves across the country placing the province under Storm Warning Signal No. 1.
PAGASA has advised residents on things to do when an area has been declared under Storm Signal No. 1.
These are: inspect the house if necessary repair/fixing is needed; clean up drainage system; harvest crops that can be yielded, monitor latest Severe Weather Bulletin issued by PAGASA every six hours and check for hourly updates.
