Local authorities suspend classes in Eastern Visayas due to typhoon ‘Nona’

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 14 (PNA) – Several local government units in Eastern Visayas have suspended classes as typhoon "Nona" threatens to make a landfall in Bicol-Samar area on Tuesday.

Northern Samar Governor Jose Ong Jr. decided to suspend classes in all levels during a meeting of the provincial disaster risk reduction management council (PDRRMC) Sunday afternoon.

Provincial information officer Eddie Picardal said in a phone interview that the governor also directed all local government units in the province to implement forced evacuation in low-lying, flood prone and coastal communities.

The PDRRMC is closely monitoring the towns of Lapinig, Gamay, Mapanas and Palapag facing the Pacific Ocean and flood prone towns of Catubig and Las Navas.

The governor has also ordered local government units to immediately establish municipal operation centers, prepare evacuation centers, conduct prepositioning of resources, and provide regular reports to provincial operation centers.

Rescue groups compose of police, military, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Health, Red Cross and Kabalikat volunteers have already prepared their equipments for possible rescue operations.

In Catbalogan City, Mayor Stephanie Uy-Tan convened the city disaster and risk reduction and management council in preparation for typhoon Nona’s landfall.

The city government warned residents in danger zones to be ready for evacuation procedure, said Mayor Uy-Tan in a phone interview.

“I also issued order for suspension of classes from elementary and secondary level while suspension of classes for college level will depend on the latest information from the weather bureau,” Uy-Tan said.

The education department’s Catbalogan city division office was also asked to prepare schools identified as evacuation centers.

Suspension of class were also issued by town mayors in Biliran province such as the town of Naval (from pre-school to secondary), Biliran (pre-school and elementary), Kawayan (pre-school and elementary), Culaba (pre-school and elementary), Cabucgayan (pre-school and elementary), and in Caibiran only pre-school class is suspended.

Samar Vice Governor Stephen James Tan also issued suspension of classes in all levels in public schools which he relayed to Department of Education Samar Division.

As of 5 a.m. on Monday, the state weather bureau has raised public storm warning signal 3 in Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Albay and Ticao Island Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran, and Samar.

Signal warning signal no. 2 is hoisted over Masbate including Burias Island, Camarines Norte, Marinduque, Romblon, Southern Quezon, and Leyte

Metro Manila, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Lubang Island, Batangas, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Quezon, Polillo Island, Southern Leyte, Northern Cebu, Bantayan Island, Camotes Island, Aklan, Capiz, Northern Negros Occidental, Dinagat province, and Siargao Island were placed under storm warning signal no. 1. (PNA)
FFC/SQM/RTA