BUTUAN CITY – Local government units (LGUs) in the Caraga suspended classes and work on Thursday as tropical storm ‘’Basyang’’ approached the region.

Weathermen expect the storm to make landfall in Surigao del Sur between tonight and Friday morning.

In Tandag City, Surigao del Sur, Mayor Roxanne Pimentel issued Executive Order 06-02 ordering the forced evacuation of residents in coastal, low-lying, and landslide-prone areas.

“Adverse weather conditions associated with tropical storm Basyang continue to bring strong winds, heavy rainfall, hazardous sea conditions, and risks of flooding, landslides, and storm surge within the City of Tandag,” Pimentel stated in the order.

Pimentel earlier issued EO 06-01 suspending work in public and private establishments, exempting only essential services such as disaster response and health. Work suspensions were also declared in the Surigao del Sur towns of San Miguel, Hinatuan, San Agustin, and Cantilan.

The provincial government of Agusan del Norte suspended work in government offices effective noon. In Tubay town, local authorities commenced preemptive evacuations for residents in high-risk zones.

The Butuan City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council raised a red alert status, activating all response clusters. The city government suspended work in government agencies and urged the private sector to do the same.

Agusan del Sur and Dinagat Islands also suspended government work and classes.

Sea travel remains suspended in the region. At Lipata Port in Surigao City, 161 rolling cargoes and 357 passengers are stranded outside the port, with 33 passengers waiting inside.

Local officials and the National Irrigation Administration are closely monitoring river systems and water levels in major irrigation facilities as rains persist.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Caraga activated its Quick Response Teams to ensure swift humanitarian assistance.

Meanwhile, Mayor Frederick Siao suspended classes in Iligan City from Feb. 5 to 6 due to Basyang.

All schools were encouraged to adopt modular learning, asynchronous activities, or other appropriate alternative learning modalities to avoid disruption of academic requirements.

Work in government offices shall continue unless otherwise announced, Siao said.

“Heads of offices shall exercise discretion in allowing personnel affected by the weather disturbance to be excused from reporting for work when necessary,” he said.

Iligan City is under blue alert status and the local government unit has mobilized the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and the Incident Management Team (IMT), together with all response clusters, for continuous monitoring, public information dissemination, and preparedness for any possible emergency.