Oriental Mindoro braces for Opong
The provincial government of Oriental Mindoro, along with various local government units (LGUs), is ramping up preparations for the anticipated impact of Severe Tropical Storm “Opong” (international name: Bualoi), which is expected to make landfall in the Bicol region on Friday, September 26, 2025.– Inquirer files.
CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — The provincial government of Oriental Mindoro, along with various local government units (LGUs), is ramping up preparations for the anticipated impact of Severe Tropical Storm Opong (international name: Bualoi), set to make landfall in the Bicol region on Friday.
READ: Bicol region bracing for effects of Severe Tropical Storm Opong
Vinscent Gahol, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), warned that Oriental Mindoro may be placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 by Friday. He urged LGUs to implement preemptive evacuations in areas prone to flooding and landslides.
“We have prepositioned food packs in multiple LGUs, particularly in the southern municipalities like Pinamalayan, which could be directly affected,” Gahol said.
He added: “All Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) warehouses are stocked and ready.”
As of 11 p.m. Wednesday, all boat trips at the Calapan City Port have been suspended following the province’s inclusion under TCWS No. 1, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
Gov. Humerlito Dolor has announced the suspension of classes at all levels—both public and private—across the province on Friday. Government work is likewise suspended, except for personnel involved in health and disaster response operations.
Residents in areas prone to floods and landslides are urged to evacuate as a precaution.
Meanwhile, Calapan City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) head Dennis Escosora reported that their council convened on Wednesday to finalize response strategies. Teams have been deployed to various barangays to assess and boost preparedness.
“We’ve elevated our Emergency Operations Center (EOC) from White to Blue Alert to address typhoon-related concerns,” Escosora said.
“We’ve already advised flood-prone barangays to carry out preemptive evacuations. All council members are on standby, and by the morning of September 26, all LGUs are expected to activate their respective EOCs, particularly the response clusters,” he added./coa
