• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental is now under red alert status in preparation for the possible impact of Tropical Storm “Basyang” expected to hit southern Negros on Friday, Feb. 6, based on the forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
As of 11 p. m. Wednesday, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 has been hoisted over Negros Occidental.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the province is expecting heavy rainfall on Thursday and Friday.
“We are hoping that it will slow down, but it is better to be prepared,” Lacson said.
While he is leaving to the local government units the call to initiate pre-emptive evacuations, Lacson said he encourages Negrenses to cooperate, if there is a call for such.
According to Pagasa, the center of “Basyang” will make its initial landfall over eastern Mindanao between Thursday evening and Friday morning.
Afterwards, it will traverse the landmass of northeastern Mindanao and Central and Western Visayas and emerge over Sulu Sea by Saturday morning.
After its initial landfall, Pagasa said it will weaken into tropical depression while traversing Visayas and will be downgraded to low pressure area by Sunday.
The state weather bureau expects 50mm to 100mm rainfall in Negros Island on Feb. 5 and 6, where localized flooding is possible mainly in areas that are urbanized, low-lying or near rivers, and landslide in highly susceptible areas. | GB
