Cebu City ready for Tropical Depression Vicky

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City is ready for Tropical Depression Vicky, Mayor Edgardo Labella said hours before the weather disturbance was projected to make landfall in Mindanao late Friday afternoon.

Labella said the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, as well as the Quick Response Team, are monitoring the situation 24/7.

“We are ready. Cebu City disaster (team) is ready,” Labella said yesterday.

State weather bureau PAGASA hoisted Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 over several areas in the Philippines, including Cebu City, yesterday due to Vicky.

Vicky is the 22nd cyclone of the year and the first cyclone in December.

Labella said the CDRRMO, QRT, and the Department of Social Welfare Services are ready for any eventuality caused by the tropical depression.

“Bisan pa og dunay holidays, naa gyud tawo nga ready... Kay dili ta ka-tag-an unsay epekto sa bagyo,” Labella said.

(Even during holidays, there are people who are standby because we will never know how the storm will affect us.)

The CDRRMO urged the public to also prepare as the weather disturbance is seen to bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains, which may cause potential flooding and landslides in hazardous areas.

Barangay Disaster Response Teams are urged to be on alert for any untoward incident and to conduct hazard assessment in their respective areas, and if needed, cut branches that may cause accidents, clear garbage from canals, and active preemptive evacuation ahead in hazardous sitios.

Track and effect

Vicky was expected to make landfall in the vicinity of Baganga-Caraga area in Davao Oriental between 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Friday. After crossing Mindanao, it is forecast to emerge over Bohol Sea early Saturday morning, pass close to Siquijor, and make another landfall over southern portion of Negros Island.

By Saturday morning or afternoon, Vicky is expected to emerge over Sulu Sea.

PAGASA said Vicky is projected to remain a tropical depression while crossing the country.

The state weather bureau warned of combined effects of Tropical Depression Vicky and tail-end of a frontal system (shear line), bringing moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Caraga, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Southern Leyte, Leyte and Bohol.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains are expected over Bicol Region, the southern portion of Quezon, Lanao del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, and the rest of Visayas, Davao Region, and Northern Mindanao.

By Saturday, moderate to heavy with at times intense rains are expected over Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Quezon, and the northern portion of Palawan including Calamian and Cuyo Islands.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains will be experienced on Saturday over mainland Cagayan Valley, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Camiguin, Dinagat Islands, and the rest of CALABARZON, MIMAROPA and Visayas. — Philstar.com, JMO (FREEMAN)