• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
In anticipation of heavy rains due to southwest monsoon enhanced by Tropical Storm Opong, the Emergency Operations Center of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council-Negros Island Region (RDRRMC-NIR) was placed on red alert status starting Wednesday, Sept. 24.
Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-NIR Regional Director Donato Sermeno III said there is also a possibility of lahar flow because of anticipated heavy rains.
The OCD-NIR has recommended the pre-emptive evacuation of residents in Sitio Tamburong, Barangay Biak na Bato in La Castellana, Negros Occidental should there be heavy rains.
Torrential rains trigger the overflowing of Ibid Creek filled with volcanic materials, which always led to the temporary displacement of families residing in the area.
The volcanic sediments removed during the initial clearing operation was observed to have been washed back into the creek because of the heavy rain occurrence.
Sermeno alerted the member-agencies of the RDRRMC Response Sector to be ready at all times.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that strong to gale-force gusts caused by the southwest monsoon will also be experienced in Negros Island Region.
Tropical Storm Opong (international name: Bualoi) has packing maximum sustained winds of 85 km. per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph, according to PAGASA. | GB
