Albay governor orders early dismissal of classes

LEGAZPI CITY , Philippines   – Albay Gov. Joey Salceda has ordered the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) for the early dismissal of classes in both elementary and high school across the province due to incoming moderate to heavy rains.

Salceda in issuing Public Advisory No. 12 said the order will not put the elementary pupils and high school students at risk while crossing spill ways and rivers during heavy downpour.

Quoting satellite data from the Philippine Atmospheric Geographical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) which shows thick band of clouds along the Samar-Leyte area which is moving slowly toward Sorsogon-Albay and could trigger moderate to heavy rains yesterday afternoon or early evening.

The forecast said expected “breaks” or thin and cloudless areas will be brief and most of the afternoon will be cloudy with rainshowers.

Pagasa also said the weather condition will persist the whole day and today particularly in Sorsogon and Albay which will bring light to moderate rains.

Salceda has already sent home the 6,045 families or 28,454 persons who were evacuated due to flash floods Sunday but ordered the 1,696 families or 8,475 persons who are at risk to landslides to stay.

“They are already going home but they must be prepared to evacuate when the weather demands it,” said Salceda, adding that to keep the evacuees healthy a clean up drive has been conducted at the different evacuation centers.

Meanwhile, the joint search and rescue efforts by the Philippine Coast Guard, Navy and Air Force continues after one of the five missing fishermen was rescued in the vicinity of Barangay Baltoc in the coastal town of Pandan, Catanduanes.

Lt. Darwin Nieva, spokesperson of the Naval Forces of Southern Luzon identified the rescued fisherman as Joselito Soledad.

Nieva said joint rescue efforts are using one Highlander PN 340, patrol gunboats PG374 and PG 378 as well as Coast Guard vessels including two Huey choppers of the Air Force Tactical Operations Group (TOG) are continuing their search for the four missing fishermen.

He said the fishermen have missing Ranie and Ricky Villar and Joseph, Litoy and Jerry all with Soledad surnames from Barangay Cadarao in Panganiban town, Catanduanes – missing since Wednesday.