By Tara Yap
ILOILO CITY-- Western Visayas region is prepared as Tropical Depression “Samuel” nears.
A passenger boat traverses the Iloilo Strait, the body of water separating Iloilo City and island province of Guimaras, Tuesday. Folks are in a hurry to cross before the boat trips get suspended due to Tropical Depression Samuel. (Tara Yap / MANILA BULLETIN)
Jose Roberto Nuñez, regional director of Office of Civil Defense (OCD-6), said all disaster response mechanisms are in place.
State weather bureau Pagasa has placed the entire region consisting of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental provinces under Signal Number 1 as of Tuesday.
In particular, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC-6) is closely monitoring Iloilo and Guimaras provinces. There’s a projection that Samuel may make landfall Wednesday morning.
The RDRRMC-6 has also sternly warned of possible flooding in low-lying areas.
Nuñez, who also chairs the RDRRMC-6, said those areas near rivers and its tributaries must evacuate if the need arises. The RDRRMC-6 identified major river systems in Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, and Guimaras provinces that may cause flooding.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has suspended boat trips as all areas in the region are under Storm Signal No. 1.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-6) has assured that 14,000 food packs are ready for distribution.