In Cebu City; Billboards rolled down due to strong winds

CEBU, Philippines - To avoid accidents, large billboards all over Cebu City were temporarily rolled down since yesterday.

This will continue until the weather condition, which is currently characterized by strong winds brought about by the northeast monsoon, improves.

Councilor David Tumulak, who heads the City Council Committee on Public Order and Safety, encouraged advertising agencies to keep their outdoor billboards to avoid accidents from happening.

Tumulak posted on his Facebook account his request for the advertising agencies to heed their call.

“Attn to all Outdoor advertising agencies within the City of Cebu, as Chairman of the Committee on Public Order and Safety, may we request to temporarily roll down all LARGE BILLBOARD ADS due to strong gale of force winds (Northeast Monsoon) we experienced right now. Public safety is our primary concern. Thank u,” the post reads.

The Cebu City Command Center weather station yesterday recorded wind speeds of about 30 to 50 kph due to the northeast monsoon, Tumulak said.

“It can pose danger to motorists and pedestrians simbako nya’g mabali ba,” Tumulak said.

Advertising agencies responded to his request and immediately sent people to bring down the billboards.

Tumulak also asked motorists to be extra cautious, especially those passing through the South Road Properties because it is prone to accidents with the weather nowadays.

“Open sea man gud siya,” he said.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration recorded the coldest day in the province in 2017 last Monday, which was at 23 degrees Celsius.

PAGASA-Cebu chief Engr. Alfredo Quiblat, Jr., in an earlier report, had said that the past three decades saw the country experiencing its coldest temperature in January.

This year, however, is different.

February has the lowest temperature compared to January’s 23.6 degrees Celsius experienced on January 11, 12 and 17.

In the past, the month of February usually had an average air temperature of 24 to 30 degrees Celsius, Quiblat said.

Despite the cold weather people are experiencing nowadays, the country shifts to the dry hot season this month and will continue until May. — Vania Mae Lim (BANAT NEWS)