Surigao del norte: A suspension of sea travels and classes in all levels was ordered in Surigao del Norte, including Siargao Island and Dinagat Islands, on Thursday afternoon as Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 was hoisted over the affected areas due to Tropical Depression (TD) Wilma.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported in its bulletin on Friday that as of 4 a.m., the center of Wilma was estimated at 245 km east of Borongan City in Eastern Samar. The tropical depression is packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph, moving west-southwest at 20 kph.
The Coast Guard stations in Surigao del Norte, Siargao Island, and Dinagat Islands have issued separate advisories, temporarily suspending voyages of all types of vessels and watercraft after PAGASA raised the TCWS No. 1. This warning has been hoisted over the northern part of Surigao del Sur, including Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, and Lanuza, as well as the northern towns of Agusan del Norte such as Kitcharao, Jabonga, Santiago, Tubay, Cabadbaran City, Remedios T. Romualdez, and Magallanes.
In a public advisory issued on Thursday afternoon, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) in Surigao del Norte authorized the local government units (LGUs) to impose localized or granular class suspensions. "All response units are ordered to be on heightened monitoring and the residents to remain vigilant and follow official channels for updates," stated the PDRRMC advisory.
In Dinagat Islands, Governor Nilo Demerey Jr. issued an order reaffirming the use of public safety protocols and interoperability guidelines to all concerned agencies and stakeholders due to the threat of Wilma. The order also activated the province's emergency operations centers under Blue Alert status, including all response clusters, to operate 24/7 until the threat posed by the weather disturbance passes. It also authorized the local suspension of classes at the discretion of the local chief executives in LGUs.
