Region 7 on blue alert for typhoon Henry

CEBU, Philippines - Though there’s no direct effect of tropical storm “Henry,” Cebu and the rest of Central Visayas are on the lookout for possible effect.

The Office of the Civil Defense Central Visayas raised the alert level to blue in preparation for the tropical cyclone that entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility yesterday morning.

“The Office of the Civil Defense-Regional Office VII is now on its BLUE ALERT STATUS in preparation for a slow onset of disaster. Issuance of Weather Forecast/Bulletin thru facsimile and text info blast for specific areas may continue as well as the monitoring of weather situations in the area of responsibility,” read the post of the OCD 7 Facebook account.

Moreover, emergency hotlines as well as online addresses of the emergency responding government agency are likewise posted.

OCD7 Emergency Hotline Numbers: Cellphone Globe: 0917-9475-666, Smart: 0949-4710-009; Telephone: 253-6162, 253-8730, 416-5025; e-mail address: [email protected], [email protected]; Facebook accounts: Office of Civil Defense-Central Visayas and Tanggulang Sibil Gitnang Visayas.

“It (blue alert status) means that in preparation for a slow onset disaster and when weather advisories were disseminated to all concerned governors related to that slow onset disaster and for this case, typhoon Henry,” OCD 7 operations officer Engineer Verneil Balaba told The Freeman.

PAGASA Mactan chief Al Quiblat said the seventh tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines will likely not make a landfall but will enhance the southwest monsoon or habagat which translates to chances of rains.

“Okay pa man ang panahon ugma. Ang expected nga indirect effect ani pinaagi sa habagat mga Sunday,” Quiblat said.

Henry, Quiblat added, is currently moving in a slow pacing with a lesser chance of hitting landmass and with similar track as tropical cyclone Florita, the first one experienced this month of July.

“Mas magbantay ta sa habagat kay posible mukusog ang uwan ug hangin tungod ini. Bisag di ta direktang maigo, di gihapon ta angayng mag kumpyansa,” Quiblat said. —/NSA (FREEMAN)