Masbate officials brace for ‘Ompong’

LEGAZPI CITY – Local disaster officials in Masbate said they have conducted clearing operations, declogging and coastal cleanup and were now on alert as Typhoon “Ompong” (international name: Mangkhut) nears the country.

Alexis Mabini, the officer of Masbate City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, said they were on alert although they were not expecting the typhoon to hit the province.

The Monreal DRRM officer Jerinar Espiloy said they have conducted clearing operations, declogging and coastal cleanup since September 11 as preparations for the typhoon.

Classes in elementary level in Monreal town were already suspended and boat trips were automatically canceled since the state weather bureau raised signal no. 1 over Ticao and Burias Islands.

As of Thursday, there were no reports of evacuations in Masbate and Ticao ports.