BACOLOD CITY — Some local government units (LGUs) here and in Negros Occidental suspended classes and government offices due to Typhoon Odette.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia on Wednesday issued an executive order for the suspension of all city government offices starting 12 noon of Dec. 16 and whole day of Dec. 17.
Leonardia said that limited face-to-face classes at the Alangilan National High School on Thursday and Friday have also been suspended.
Initially, the city government has readied 373 classrooms as evacuation centers but has planned to increase the number in the coming days.
The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) has issued a warning to coastal communities and residential areas near bodies of water for possible surges.
At least 15 villages have been identified by CDRRMO as "areas of concern". These are Barangays Bata and Banago which straddle along Banago Creek; Barangay 1 and Purok Carvic, Mandalagan because of Mandalagan Creek; Barangays 2, 8, 10 and 12 which are situated along Mambulok Creek; Barangays 27, 40, Taculing and Singcang-Airport which are along Magsungay River; Barangays Alijis, Mansilingan and Singcang-Airport due to Lupit River, and the coastal area of Barangay Pahanocoy that lies along Pahanocoy Creek.
Rescue units are prepared for any eventuality, adding that CDRRMO emergency command center based at the old City Hall had been on a 24-hour shift since Tuesday to closely monitor the movement of the typhoon.
Leonardia also ordered the speed up inventory of relief packs, food assistance and hygiene kits for distribution.
On Dec. 16, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson also ordered the suspension of classes in the province and work at the Provincial Capitol from 2 p.m. onwards due to the typhoon.
The LGUs of Escalante City, Ilog, Murcia, Silay City, Himamaylan City, San Carlos City, and Bago City have also suspended government offices.
As off 11 a.m., Thursday, Signal No. 3 is in effect on the Southern and Central portions of Negros Occidental covering Calatrava, San Carlos City, Salvador Benedicto, City of Talisay, Silay City, Bacolod City, Murcia, Bago City, Valladolid, Pulupandan, La Carlota City, San Enrique, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Pontevedra, Hinigaran, Isabela, Binalbagan, City of Himamaylan, City of Kabankalan, Ilog, Cauayan, Candoni, City of Sipalay, Hinoba-An, while Signal No. 2 is in effect on the rest of the province, based on the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).