BACOLOD CITY – The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Negros Occidental has been placed on blue alert status for tropical storm "Ada."
Under this alert status, emergency response units are on standby with heightened preparedness for a possible impact. Monitoring and coordination with local government units (LGUs) continue.
Provincial Response Clusters were activated, including camp coordination and camp management, food and non-food items, logistics, search, rescue, and retrieval, health, law and order, clearing and civil works, and education.
A heavy rainfall warning was issued by the PDRRMC EOC on Friday afternoon, Jan. 16, due to the weather condition affecting Binalbagan, Isabela, Himamaylan City, Kabankalan City, Ilog, and Candoni, which may persist within two to three hours and may also affect nearby areas.
The public and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (DRRMO) were advised to monitor the weather condition and watch for the next warning.
Concurrently, with the prevailing Alert Level 2 (intensified unrest) over Kanlaon Volcano, the red alert status at the PDRRMC EOC shall remain in effect for close monitoring and coordination.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has warned of a possible lahar or mudflow from the volcano as the storm may potentially bring light to moderate with occasionally heavy rains to Negros Island and the rest of the Visayas.
Phivolcs strongly recommended increased vigilance and readiness of communities in pre-determined zones of lahar and related hazards on this volcano.