CEBU City Mayor Nestor Archival presides over a meeting to discuss preparations for tropical depression ‘Basyang’ on Wednesday, Feb. 4. (Cebu City News)
Classes were suspended in several areas in Cebu province on Wednesday, Feb. 4, in preparation for the possible effects of tropical depression ‘’Basyang.’’
In Cebu City, Mayor Nestor Archival announced that the city has been placed under blue alert status following a coordination meeting led by the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC).
Archival said monitoring and preparedness have intensified especially in areas prone to flooding and landslides.
“Following our assessment, Cebu City is now under blue alert. This means we are tightening monitoring and standing ready to respond to any emergency,” Archival said.
All barangays have been directed to activate their disaster preparedness plans, Archival said.
As the city prepared to deploy disaster response teams, Archival urged residents to prepare essential supplies, secure their homes, and stay vigilant.
“We must work together to protect our communities. Preparedness and vigilance can save lives, and we encourage everyone to remain alert as Basyang approaches," Archival said.
In-person classes were suspended starting Wednesday until Friday, Feb. 6, in Danao City and the towns of Carmen, Compostela, Cordova, Catmon, Sogod, and Daanbantayan to ensure the safety of students, teachers, non-teaching personnel, and the public, officials said.
Inclement weather also prompted the local government of Consolacion town in Cebu to move its annual Sarok Festival from Feb. 6 to Feb. 7.