The city government on Tuesday suspended afternoon classes from preschool to senior high school in public and private schools to safeguard the safety of students and residents due to the inclement weather. Mayor Jerry Treñas signed Executive Order No. 108 since the city 'faces continued risks due to the effects of southwest monsoon enhanced by the Typhoon Carina.' 'Occasional moderate to heavy rains, cloudy skies with 100 percent cloud cover, and strong gale-force gusts in the coastal areas are anticipated in addition to high tide reaching as high as 2.05 meters at 11:19 a.m. which may contribute to flooding in high-risk areas,' the EO released noon of Tuesday said. Meanwhile, the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) reported that as of 9 a.m., big waves and high tide affected 133 families, equivalent to 374 individuals, in 10 barangays here. The CSWDO report showed that 19 houses were already destroyed while 33 others were partially damaged. Affected families are currently being accommoda ted in the evacuation centers of their respective barangays. Disaster preparedness The city government and the Central Philippine University earlier signed a commitment to enhance disaster preparedness in Iloilo City, which also marked the observance of National Resilience Month. In an interview on Tuesday, CPU president Dr. Ernest Howard Dagohoy highlighted the importance of collaboration among the academe, government, and private sectors. "I'm excited, and I look forward to more collaborative efforts from our end with our government and private sector," he said, noting that addressing national resilience cannot be accomplished by a single institution. Iloilo City DRRM officer Donna Magno said the broader goal of their efforts is to ensure zero casualties and minimize damage and losses during disasters. "We look at the vulnerabilities because these are the reasons there are many casualties and affected," she said. Source: Philippines News Agency