Mimaropa LGUs affected by ‘Samuel’ urged to hold preemptive evacuations

SAN PEDRO CITY – Residents in landslide and flood-prone areas were advised to take precaution in view of Tropical Depression “Samuel.”

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) issued the recommendation on Tuesday after the Philippine weather bureau raised storm signal number one in some areas in the region.

These were Northern Palawan, Romblon, and southern parts of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro.

“(Preemptive evacuation) is a call of the LGUs (local government units) depending on their appreciation of the situation,” said Eugene Cabrera, director of the RDRRMC, in a phone interview.

As of  Tuesday afternoon, affected areas in the region began having rain showers although Cabrera said: “No significant effects” were reported yet.

Some local governments in Romblon and Occidental Mindoro have also canceled classes and implemented a “no-sail” policy.