Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao has urged her province mates to prepare for Tropical Storm Odette as she announced the temporary suspension of the Binirayan Festival.
“Those in the low-lying areas should have to be prepared for any pre-emptive evacuation if needed,” Cadiao said in an interview on Tuesday.
She said local government officials have to closely monitor the situation in their localities and be ready to respond to any emergency.
The province is preparing food packs through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) to be distributed to the families to be affected by “Odette”, expected to hit the country Tuesday night.
“The Antique Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) personnel are also now on standby in case there would be a need for rescue operation,” the governor said.
PDRRMO personnel will be augmenting their municipal counterparts, who are the first responders, when needed.
Meanwhile, Cadiao said the celebration of Binirayan Festival will be temporarily suspended.
The Fiesta Binirayan is from Dec. 1 to 17 at the Binirayan Gymnasium in San Jose de Buenavista.
The Lin-ay or Miss Binirayan Festival coronation on Dec. 15 at the Binirayan gymnasium will also be suspended to a later date to be announced by the Antique Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office.
Source: Philippines News Agency