BACOLOD CITY -- The Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center (DRRMC) in Western Visayas reported on Sunday, May 28, that a preemptive evacuation of about 1,082 families composed of 3,659 individuals was conducted in Negros Occidental over the weekend due to typhoon "Betty." Some of the evacuees came from the town of Hinoba-an and Sipalay City which are situated in the southern part of the province. Classes on all levels in Hinoba-an  were temporarily suspended on May 26 until further notice due to the threat of the typhoon. As of 8 a.m., Executive Assistant Dionilo Bogtae, head of the Public Safety and Sipalay Emergency Assistance and Rescue Services (SEARS), said that 71 families composed of 291 individuals from Barangays Gil Montilla and Manlucahoc were temporarily sheltered at the barangay covered court in Sipalay City. Last year, Sipalay was battered by super typhoon "Odette" that resulted in the death of more than 10 people. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Western Visayas has prepositioned a total of 36,251 family food packs (FFPs) in different local government units (LGUs) in the region. Of this number, 9,312 FFPs were allotted for the province. Non-food items like hygiene kits, sleeping kits, family kits, kitchen kits, tents, laminated sacks, and other non-food relief goods that are stockpiled in various regional warehouses of the DSWD and strategic locations in the region are also ready for distribution. Meanwhile, the Bacolod City DRRMO activated its Emergency Operations Center and raised it to blue alert with Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Protocol based on the Low Risk Description of the Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment conducted on May 24. SOME residents of Sipalay City, Negros Occidental are temporary sheltered at the evacuation center as part of the local government’s preemptive evacuation in relation to typhoon ‘Betty.’ (Photo courtesy of Sipalay City Executive Assistant Dionilo Bogtae)