The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) in Negros Oriental has reported zero casualties in the wake of the storm “Agaton” that sliced across the province early this week.
PDRRMC Executive Officer Adrian Sedillo on Wednesday said that so far, his office has not received any reports of lives lost or people injured as the first storm to hit the Philippines moved over southern Negros Oriental on Tuesday.
“No lives, limbs, properties and sources of livelihood” in the province were affected by “Agaton” despite its landfall in Bais City, he said.
Except for reports of flooding in some areas like Tanjay City, Bais City, Bindoy town and Guihulngan City, the province has so far fared well with the unpredictable “Agaton”, which, according to some reports, had made landfall at least five times as it headed towards Palawan where it made a sixth landfall.
Sedillo said he is also awaiting an official report from Guihulngan City, about more than 100 kilometers north of this capital, regarding the scouring of a spillway in Barangay Hibaiyo.
The PDRRMC executive officer has described “Agaton” (international name Bolaven) as unpredictable, citing weather forecasters using different models to track its path.
Early on, southern Negros Oriental and other parts of Central Visayas (Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor) were placed under Signal No. 1, causing the suspension of sea travel to areas affected by the storm.
Thousands of passengers were stranded for at least a day as the Coast Guard here announced the suspension of sea travel.
Sedillo has lauded the different government agencies, the local government units, and the general public for their support and cooperation in preparing for the arrival of “Agaton”, and even the storms that came ahead of it, such as “Urduja” and “Vinta”.
He also reiterated that the provincial government has consistently cited the role of the media in the dissemination of correct information and advisories from official warning government agencies such as PAG-ASA, the Department of Science and Technology, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the PDRRMC.
This, in effect, gets the warnings and advisories out to as wide an audience as possible to alert the people of the risks of floods, heavy rains and strong winds and other dangers brought about by a coming storm, Sedillo noted.
The PDRRMC officer also reassured that Capitol has pre-positioned its resources, especially relief items via the Provincial Social Welfare Office, to allow for immediate response when a disaster strikes. (Judy Flores Partlow/PNA)
