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Bacolod City, Philippines Tuesday, December 4, 2012
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Signal No. 2 over Negros,
Pablo in Bacolod tonight
PAGASA SAYS
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Storm signal number two was up over Negros Occidental and Oriental as of 11 last night as typhoon “Pablo” approached, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) said.

Typhoon "Pablo" has maintained its strength as it continues to threaten the Davao Oriental-Surigao Del Sur area, it said.

The center of the typhoon, as of 10 p.m. yesterday, was 230 km southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, with maximum sustained winds of 175 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 210 kph.

The typhoon is expected to be in the vicinity of Bacolod City this evening, 180 km northwest of Puerto Princesa City tomorrow evening, and 670 km west of Metro Manila Thursday evening, PAGASA said.

Sea travel in Western Visayas was cancelled, starting 11:30 a.m. yesterday, and local government units were authorized to suspend classes.

The AirPhil Express flight from Cebu to Bacolod and back this evening has been cancelled due to the typhoon, the airline's Bacolod manager, Job Lamela, said.

Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said all rescue and response teams in Negros Occidental have been activated to be on 24-hour duty against the onslaught of “Pablo”.

The typhoon is expected to be felt in Negros Occidental by tomorrow afternoon and have a more than 24-hour effect on the province because of the wideness of its radius, Eric Villaluna, Provincial Disaster Management Program Division officer-in-charge, said.

The eye of the typhoon is expected to hit southern Negros, he added.

Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6 th District) said they were briefed at the House of the extent of what could be a devastating typhoon. She said she returned to Negros to oversee relief operations that may be needed in her district in southern Negros.

The governor called for prayers and appealed to all local government units to plan ahead and effect appropriate measures in preparation for “Pablo”.

Marañon also called on fishermen not to venture out to sea, and on residents in low-lying and coastal areas to take precautions.

The governor said he met with the heads of the provincial police, social welfare, health, engineering and disaster departments yesterday morning to ensure that swift response measures to the effects of the typhoon are in place.

RESOURCES ON STANDBY

Equipment, trucks and other related resources of the provincial government are on standby for possible rescue, search and relief operations, he said.

Food, water, medicine and other relief assistance have also been readied, he added.

He reminded all Negrenses to closely monitor the situation and take precautions to ensure their safety as well as that of their families.

Lt. Commander Glenn Daraug, Bacolod Coast Guard chief, said all sea travel in Negros Occidental to Panay and other parts of the country was cancelled at 11:30 a.m. yesterday after typhoon warning number 1 was hoisted over the province.

The cancellation of sea travel will continue until the typhoon warning over the province is lifted.

CLASSES CANCELLED

Education Regional Director Mildred Garay said all local governments have the authority to cancel classes if typhoon warnings are up.

The Department of Education rules state that classes in pre-school and elementary levels in all public and private schools will be automatically suspended with storm signal number 1; classes in pre-school, elementary and high school will be automatically suspended with storm signal number 2; and classes in all levels are automatically suspended with storm signal number 3.

Mayor Jose Montelibano yesterday declared no classes in all school levels of Silay City today in preparation for “Pablo.”

Senior Supt. Milko Lirazon, OIC Negros Occidental police director, said all policemen have been directed to coordinate with their local government units to assist disaster risk reduction councils and emergency operation centers.

The policemen were also directed to identify flood-prone areas for possible evacuation, Lirazan said.

STORM SIGNALS

PAGASA, as of 11 last night, hoisted storm signal number 3 (with 101-185 kph winds) over Surigao del Norte, Siargao, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Province, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Bukidnon, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, North Cotabato, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Davao del Norte, and Samal Island in Mindadao.

Storm signal number 2 (61-100 kph winds) was up over southern Leyte, Bohol, Cebu, Camotes Island, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental and Siquijor in the Visayas; and Misamis Occidental, Davao del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao in Mindanao.

Storm signal number 1 (30-60 kph winds) was up over Palawan and Calamian Group of Islands in Luzon; Eastern Samar, Western Samar, Leyte, Biliran, Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Iloilo and Guimaras in the Visayas; and Zamboanga, Sibugay, Basilan, Sarangani and south Cotabato in Mindanao.

FLASHFLOOD ALERT

Estimated rainfall amount is from 15-30 mm per hour (heavy-intense) within the 600-km diameter of the typhoon, PAGASA said.

Residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signals are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides, it added.

Likewise, residents in coastal areas under public storm warning signal 2 and signal number 3 are alerted against storm surges, particularly those living in the coastal areas of Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat, Bohol and Leyte provinces where three to six meters wave height is expected, it said.

Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the Eastern Seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao, PAGASA said.*CPG

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