Classes in all levels suspended

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria and Negros Oriental Gov. Ruel Degamo on yesterday afternoon announced the suspension of classes at all levels in this city and province today and tomorrow.

This came as the Philippines braces for super typhoon Yolanda’s entry in the country’s area of responsibility by evening today and to make landfall Friday morning.

Sagarbarria also disclosed that the city’s Rescue 348 is already on standby alert with all equipment in place, while the Social Welfare Office has also been alerted for relief operations as needed.

The mayor also announced the city government is coordinating with barangay officials to undertake pre-emptive evacuation of residents along the banks of the Banica River to avoid flashfloods.

As of this posting, the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC), chaired by the mayor, is convening at the city session hall to review its disaster contingency plan.

Negros Oriental Gov. Degamo has ordered the suspension of classes for schools in all levels under the DepEd provincial division on Friday (Nov. 8), as per memo signed by ASDS Dexter Aguilar, said Adrian Sedillo, executive officer of the Provincial DRRMC.

Media reports earlier quoted the CHED as saying that classes at colleges and universities in the Central Visayas provinces of Cebu, Negros Oriental, Bohol and Siquijor were already suspended for Thursday and Friday.

In a related development, the Negros Oriental 2 Electric Cooperative (NORECO 2) is also gearing up for Yolanda by mobilizing its manpower and equipment for trouble-shooting operations once the storm strikes. —-(FREEMAN)