Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head Jose Marie Vargas advised the Department of Education to cancel a 2-day Boy Scout jamboree held in Brgy. Granada, Bacolod City and to end their program by noontime yesterday so they could send the Boy Scouts home.

Public school children had no classes yesterday since their teachers underwent a seminar, he said.

Vargas said that during their meeting, they convened the Disaster Operation Center and the Barangay Disaster Committee to prepare for the incoming bad weather.

They also advised the Department of Social Services and Development and the City Health Office to inform the barangay-based social workers and barangay health workers to be on standby especially that high tide will be at 8 p.m., he said. The critical period is from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m. today and they are monitoring the situation 24/7, he added.

Vargas said he advised DepEd to prepare the schools as evacuation centers, while the City Engineer's Office and the Department of Public Services will provide vehicles for possible evacuation.

He said the City Health Office will provide medical needs while the Bureau of Fire Protection will provide water for the evacuation centers.

All rescue volunteer groups including the Philippine Red Cross are on alert level one while Police Precincts 1 to 10 will serve as coordinating centers of the barangays, he added.

Vargas said the Banago Elementary School and Andres Bonifacio Elementary School will serve as evacuation centers for the coastal barangays of Banago, Bata, Barangay 1, 3, 4, and 6.

Other areas of concern are Brgys. Pahanocoy, Singcang, Tangub, Taculing and Mansilingan which experience flooding, he said.*CGS

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