LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — Work in public offices in Ilocos Sur province was suspended on Tuesday, July 25, as northern Luzon prepares for super typhoon Egay (international name: Doksuri).
In an executive order, Gov. Jeremias “Jerry” Singson said the suspension would ensure “public welfare and safety” as the weather disturbance was forecast to dump moderate to intense rains and bring strong winds.
The decision to suspend work in private businesses and offices was at the discretion of their respective heads, according to Singson.
Aside from work in public offices, the governor also suspended classes at all levels in public and private schools in the province.
Singson also issued a directive to all departments involved in crucial emergency services, disaster risk reduction and management, as well as hospitals and health services, to ensure sufficient staff for uninterrupted public service.
In Solsona town in Ilocos Norte province, Mayor Joseph de Lara also issued an executive order suspending classes at all levels in private and public schools on Tuesday.
The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council raised its alert status from blue to red as of 5 p.m. on Monday to prepare for the possible adverse effects of Egay.
The council also “strongly advised” the local governments in the region to raise their alert status to red and activate their respective emergency operations centers.
All provinces in the Ilocos region were placed under a tropical cyclone wind signal, with Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur under Signal No. 2 and La Union and Pangasinan under Signal No. 1, according to the 11 a.m. bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration. INQ
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