VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) — Governor Jeremias Singson has suspended classes at all levels, both in public and private schools, and government work in Ilocos Sur for Tuesday, Sept. 3, to minimize the adverse effects and damages of Tropical Storm Enteng (international name: Yagi).
On Monday, the governor issued Executive Order No. 22 series of 2024, ordering all local government units to monitor the situation in their territorial jurisdiction, inspect all areas identified as highly or very susceptible to hazards, and take all necessary measures to protect life and property.
He also urged the public to take precautionary measures, observe minimum public health standards, follow advisories, and cooperate with their respective local authorities in case of an evacuation.
Despite the suspension of work in most government offices, Singson stated in the EO, “All departments directly involved in providing critical emergency services and disaster risk reduction and management, such as the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (PDRRM) Office, local disaster risk reduction and management offices, member offices of the PDRRM Council, and all hospital and health services, will maintain their workforce to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of services to the public.”
For private business establishments and offices, work suspension is left to their respective employers’ discretion following DOLE Labor Advisory No. 17, Series of 2022.
On Monday afternoon, members of the PDRRMC gathered for a pre-disaster risk assessment meeting at the Governor’s Office, Provincial Farmers Livelihood Development Center in the city.
During the meeting, PDRRM Officer Rhon Arquelada ensured the readiness of the PDRRMO personnel and said that the office’s search, rescue, and retrieval (SRR) and medical teams are on standby at the emergency operations center, ready for deployment in case of an emergency.
Moreover, equipment intended for search, rescue, and medical emergencies, along with rescue vehicles, are fully prepared for any unforeseen incidents. Continuous monitoring and coordination with PDRRMC members and city and municipal DRRMOs are ongoing to ensure a swift and effective response.
Prior to this, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) Emergency Operations Center raised its alert status to “Red” and implemented the “Charlie” Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Protocol, effective Monday, through Memorandum Nos. 96 and 97, series of 2024.
A Red Alert is activated when an imminent emergency is identified, requiring the highest level of monitoring, coordination, and reporting.
Meanwhile, the Charlie EPR protocol indicates a high-risk level, requiring necessary actions and preparedness measures, such as sending warnings and advisories, cascading preparedness directives, activating response clusters, recommending class and work suspension, preemptively evacuating communities, mobilizing rapid deployment teams, and providing additional resources to communities, among other actions.
As of 8:00 p.m. on Sept. 2, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 has been raised over the province by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
This indicates that winds ranging from 39-61 km per hour or intermittent rains may be expected within the next 36 hours, which may result in light to moderate damage to exposed communities. (MJTAB/JMCQ PIA Ilocos Sur)
