Storm brings ‘moderate to heavy rain’ today

Storm brings ‘moderate to heavy rain’ today

Storm “Ramon” grew stronger and bigger as it approached southern Philippines and is expected to dump moderate to heavy rains in Cebu as it travels across Central Visayas today.

The brunt of the storm is expected 90 kilometers north of Cebu City, near Bogo, by tomorrow morning or earlier.

Storm Signal Number 1 was hoisted yesterday over Cebu, Bohol, Leyte and Samar.

The storm packs winds of 65 to 80 kilometers per hour and is forecast to exit the country by Friday.

“We are ready with our immediate relief goods but our primary concern is for mayors to take preemptive measures in evacuating families in high-risk areas like riverbanks, coastlines and landslide-prone areas,” said Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

“Pray to the Señor Sto. Niño and Our Lady of Guadluape,” she said so that lives and property would be spared.

A 24-hour watch was  declared in disaster units of Cebu City Hall and the Capitol, where officials readied relief goods and evacuation plans.

In Cebu City, dump trucks and rubber boats were placed on standby in case of flooding.

Mayor Michael Rama, who arrived from Manila about 9 p.m., asked contractors to make their equipment available to clear roads if the need arises.  A minor landslide in a road in barangay Kalunasan was quickly cleared.

“This is the time to show the spirit of volunteerism,” he said.
The aim is to have “zero casualties” and minimal damage.

“All 80 barangays in Cebu City are considered flood prone,” said Alvin Santillana, head of the Cebu City disaster coordinating council. “It’s unfair to name a few when all barangays experience flooding.”

He said rescue equipment has been distributed to the fire department, barangay halls and the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation.

Barangay disaster brigades were told to alert families in low-lying areas to move to higher ground as a  precaution.

The storm will affect a wider area of  400 km, up from 300 km on Monday, and was anticipated to dump 5-25 millimeters of rainfall every hour, said the weather bureau Pagasa.

Fast craft bound for Cebu were stopped at the ports yesterday morning.   The Cebu Coast Guard grounded 33 passenger vessels bound for Bohol and Leyte provinces.

Rolando Punzalan, Cebu Coast Guard station commander, said passenger vessels were not allowed to leave the ports of Cebu City, Danao City, Hagnaya in San Remegio town, Camotes Island and Bantayan Island.

Only one vessel with a 2,000 gross tonnage was allowed to sail for Cagayan de Oro City from Jagna, Bohol.

All fast craft and small vessels from Tagbilaran and Tubigon in Bohol were grounded.

Instead of hammering again typhoon-battered  regions in Luzon, “Ramon” will directly hit the northern tip of Mindanao and central Philippines.

The storm’s eye was expected to touch down in Southern Leyte this morning and cross Central Visayas, traveling northwest at 17 kph.

Yesterday, heavy rains and fierce winds were already whipping coastal provinces in northeastern Mindanao and eastern Visayas.

In its 5 p.m. advisory yesterday, Pagasa hoisted Storm Signal No. 2 over Southern Leyte, Eastern Samar, Surigao del Norte, Siargao Island, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Island.

Signal Number 1 was raised over Masbate, Ticao Island, Romblon, Sorsogon, Northern Leyte, Biliran Island, Bohol, Cebu, Northern Negros, Western Samar, Panay Island and Guimaras.

In Mindanao, the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Sur and Camiguin Island were also under Signal Number 1.

Classes from preschool to high school are automatically suspended in areas under Storm Signal Number 2.

But it’s up to local school officials to call off classes if weather conditions become too risky for students to come to school.

In Talisay City, police said all 22 barangays were alerted about the storm.
Neil Sanchez of the Office of Civil Defense said so far only Tudela town in north Cebu reported flooding Monday night after a downpour.

It was agreed in the meeting of the provincial disaster council that schools won’t be used as evacuation centers to avoid hampering classes.  Instead, barangay halls will be used as shelters./From reports of Ador Mayol, Jhunnex Napallacan, Edison delos Angeles, Rhea Ruth Rosell, Chito Aragon and Gabriel Bonjoc