By Jennifer P. Rendon
With a maximum sustained speed of 175 km/hour, Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) has forced the suspension of classes, work, and offices in the city and province of Iloilo, and other provinces in Western Visayas.
As of 5 p.m. Thursday, Storm Signal No. 4 was hoisted all over Central and southern portions of Negros Occidental.
Signal No. 3 was raised in northern part of Negros Occidental, Guimaras, southern portion of Iloilo, and southern portion of Antique.
Meanwhile, Signal No. 2 was up on the rest of Negros Occidental, the rest of Iloilo province, Capiz, and Aklan.
As early as 7 a.m., Mayor Jerry Treñas ordered the suspension of classes in all levels, including online classes, on Thursday and Friday.
Treñas later issued Executive Order No. 149 for the suspension of classes and work in government offices
Earlier than that, Treñas also announced that all offices at the Iloilo City Hall will be on a “skeletal basis, except the City Mayor’s Office (CMO), City Engineer’s Office (CEO), General Services Office (GSO), Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO), City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO), City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), and others to be identified later, due to the present situation of the typhoon.”
He also asked everyone to prepare food, emergency kits, charge their phones, and always get information through the media.
Governor Arthur Defensor, Jr. of Iloilo also issued Memorandum Order No. 26 that declared the suspension of transaction and work at the Iloilo Provincial Government effective 4:00 p.m. of Dec 16.
Meanwhile, Governor Jose Eugenia Lacson also issued a memorandum order declaring the suspension of work at the provincial government from 2:00 p.m. onwards.
Governor Esteban Evan Contreras of Capiz also issued E.O. No. 30, suspending classes in all levels and work in both public and private offices.
Early Thursday, Governor Samuel Gumarin of Guimaras also issued EO No. 62 declaring the suspension of work in both public and private offices and suspension of classes at all levels.
Mayor Carlos Cabangal, Jr. of Banate, Iloilo has also issued a memorandum for the suspension of work.
Suspension of work in public and private offices and classes in all levels were also declared in the towns of Cuartero, Panay, and Pontevedra in Capiz province; Cadiz City in Negros Occidental; and Calinog, Iloilo.
As of 5 p.m., the Office of Civil Defense 6 (OCD-6) said that Odette has stranded 703 passengers, 210 rolling cargoes, and 14 bus liners.
Ma. Aletha Nogra, OCD-6’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Division chief and concurrent OCD-6 officer-in-charge, said pre-emptive evacuation to 57 barangays.
The 1,769 families comprising of 6,493 individuals are now at the 92 evacuation centers.
The OCD-6 has repeatedly advised residents in low-lying areas to be wary of flash floods.
Residents in barangays susceptible to landslides were also advised to evacuate.
