Negros Occidental raises blue alert amid ‘Kristine’ threat

BACOLOD CITY - Negros Occidental's Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) went on blue alert as Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 was hoisted over northern Negros due to Tropical Storm Kristine Wednesday morning. In an advisory, the PDRRMC Emergency Operations Center said concerned offices, agencies, and local DRRMCs were told to 'closely monitor respective areas of responsibility and send updates.' 'Blue alert' requires the operation centers to be on standby and prepared to respond to any incident. As of 11 a.m., TCWS No. 1 was in effect in the northern portion of Negros Occidental, including Pontevedra, La Castellana, San Enrique, Murcia, Moises Padilla, Valladolid, Pulupandan, EB Magalona, Manapla, Toboso, Calatrava, Don Salvador Benedicto, Bacolod City, Bago City, La Carlota City, Silay City, Talisay City, Victorias City, Cadiz City, Sagay City, Escalante City, and San Carlos City. Across the province, most local government units suspended face-to-face classes at al l levels on Wednesday. In the cities of Kabankalan, Escalante, and Sagay, only classes from pre-school to senior high were suspended. The municipalities of Toboso and Calatrava already declared suspension of classes until Thursday. Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard Station (CGS) Northern Negros Occidental (NNOC) canceled sea trips in all ports under its jurisdiction after the hoisting of TCWS No. 1. 'We advise the seagoing riding public, coastal communities, and fisherfolk to take precautionary measures while venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigation during inclement weather condition,' Commander Jansen Benjamin, chief of CGS NNOC, said in an advisory. Source: Philippines News Agency