Negros Occ. on alert status

CEBU, Philippines -  Both the provincial and city governments were on alert status yesterday, when typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) intensified further, and placed the province under Storm Signal no. 1.

Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. placed the province under orange alert, as he urged Negrenses to be prepared and follow evacuation advisories, while Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella said the city, which is on yellow alert status, has been closely monitoring the typhoon.

Marañon directed all mayors to take pre-emptive measures to ensure the safety of lives and property, and he directed residents in critical areas to evacuate, if necessary.

Third district Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said communities should watch out for storm surges and strong winds. “We have already learned our lesson (from Yolanda),” he said, as he advised the mayors to be prepared with provisions for the evacuees.

City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Rufino Alcala said Bacolod’s community emergency response team is composed of 466 volunteers, which were already on standby for deployment. He advised residents in the danger zones especially in coastal areas to prepare in case of an evacuation.

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office and the Bacolod City Police Office are now in full alert too as the typhoon is expected to make its landfall today.

Dr. Cynthia Demavivas, division superintendent of Department of Education- Bacolod, said all public schools in the city were ready to be used as evacuation centers.

All hospitals under the Department of Health in Western Visayas were placed in Code Blue alert, according to Dr. Julius Drilon, chief of the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital,  with 50 percent of all personnel on standby or on duty.

“We are prepared for any eventuality,” Drilon said, adding that medical supplies, additional provisions and other contingency were readied, as they expected influx of patients. (FREEMAN)