In Southern Cebu: Tourism activities, classes suspended

CEBU, Philippines — Tourism activities in Southern Cebu have been suspended yesterday due to the inclement weather condition.

No snorkeling, island hopping, and diving activities were permitted by the Philippine Coast Guard in Moalboal. The rough seas in the area pose a risk to tourists prompting local authorities to temporarily suspend these activities.

Saavedra Sanctuary operation was also cancelled as well as the canyoneering activities in the towns of Badian and Alegria.

"…the water level is still high and the water currents are still strong, Badian Canyoneering and Kawasan Falls is still temporarily closed for all activities today (September 17, 2024), until further notice," the local government of Badian announced on its social media page.

The local government unit explained that the safety of their visitors and staff are their top priority and that the decision to suspend the tourism activities was to prevent any potential accidents and injuries.

Alegria also issued a memorandum suspending the canyoneering activities in the town upon the recommendation of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. The MDRRMO was prompted to recommend the temporary suspension of canyoneering due to strong water current and murky water. Ginatilan town also closed its famous Inambakan Falls.

Meanwhile, suspension of classes was also declared in over 20 towns and cities in the Province of Cebu due to the bad weather.

Data from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) showed that  Carcar City, Cordova, Minglanilla, Mandaue City,  Consolacion, Talisay City,  Toledo City,  Tuburan, Santa Fe, San Fernando, Danao City, Alegria, Naga City, Malabuyoc, Santander, Ginatilan, Boljoon, Sibonga, Moalboal, Badian, and Dumanjug have declared suspension of classes yesterday.

As of 5 p.m. yesterday, southwest monsoon was causing light to moderate with at times heavy rains in Alcantara, Alcoy, Alegria, Aloguinsan, Argao, Asturias, Badian, Balamban, Bantayan, Barili, Bogo City, Boljoon, Borbon, Carcar, Carmen, Catmon, Cebu City, Compostela, Consolacion, Cordova, Daanbantayan, Dalaguete, Danao City, Danao Lake, Dumanjug, Ginatilan, Lapu-Lapu City, Liloan, Madridejos, Malabuyoc, Mandaue City, Medellin, Minglanilla, Moalboal, Naga City, Oslob, Pilar, Pinamungahan, Poro, Ronda, Samboan, San Fernando, San Francisco, San Remigio, Santa Fe, Santander, Sibonga, Sogod, Tabogon, Tabuelan, Talisay City, Toledo City, Tuburan, and Tudela.

Negros Oriental was also affected by habagat, particularly Zamboanguita, Siaton, Dauin, Bacong, Valencia, Dumaguete City, Sibulan, San Jose, Amlan, Bindoy, Ayungon, Tayasan, La Libertad, Jimalalud, Guihulngan City, Vallehermoso, and Canlaon City.

Habagat was also affecting the towns of San Juan, Siquijor, Larena, Enrique Villanueva, Maria, and Lazi in the province of Siquijor. — (FREEMAN)