‘Basyang’ to bring heavy rains in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is warning the public against possible storm surges, landslides and flooding as tropical depression Basyang enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

PAGASA Mactan's Oscar Tabada said yesterday's sunny weather was a prelude to a rainy and windy weekend.

Basyang is expected to bring moderate to heavy rains starting today.

"Kusog-kusog ang uwan starting early in the afternoon with showers all the way till the evening with heavy rains to last until Saturday morning," Tabada said.

PAGASA warns those living in coastal areas of the possibility of storm surge especially during midnight of Friday.

"Basyang is expected to bring strong winds and our high tide for Friday (today) is 1.83 meters at 11pm which will possibly be aggravated by the winds brought by the tropical depression. Magmatngon gyud kay gabii raba na," Tabada said.

Acording to PAGASA's 5pm weather bulletin yesterday, tropical depression Basyang was estimated at 1,108km east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur with maximum winds of 55kph near the center. It is forecast to move west at 30kph.

Tabada said fishermen should consider postponing plans of sailing tonight and resume fishing on Saturday or Sunday.

"Di lang sa ta mubyahe ang barko ug small sea crafts. Sa atong mga mananagat, unya na sila magpalawod inig Sabado ug Dominggo," Tabada said.

With Basyang expected to affect Cebu, the Cebu City government, upon the orders of Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, has reactivated the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) today.

"Everything is set up," said Labella, who is now the acting mayor since Mayor Michael Rama is on a vacation leave. Even drainage canals in the city have been checked, he said.

Labella said that even though tropical depression Basyang is "not quite strong," the city is taking precautions because of the heavy rains that it may bring.

 "Because of its slow velocity, heavy downpour is expected and high tide pa g'yud ugma (today), so dako ang posibilidad na mubaha," Labella warned.

Labella said residents living in flood-prone and landslide-prone areas in the city are advised to be alert and to heed immediately in case they are advised to evacuate.

Labella met yesterday with Alvin Santillana of CDRRMC, as well as officials from PAGASA to discuss preparations for the weather disturbance.

The vice mayor said they will meet again today and identify flood and landslide-prone areas in the city, among others.

Residents in barangays that have been previously identified to be flood-prone, such as Kasambagan, Mabolo, Happy Valley Road in Guadalupe, and Lahug, among others, and landslide-prone areas in the mountain barangays are warned to be extra vigilant.

City-government owned trucks and Kaohsiung buses are placed on standby at the City Hall in case an evacuation is ordered, he said.

Ambulances and medical teams, as well as workers of the Department of Social Welfare and Services, are also mobilized.

Traffic enforcers and personnel of the City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) were advised to keep track of routes for easy access in case of emergencies.

"We don't want to sound as alarmists, but wala g'yuy mawala kung mangandam 'ta ug magbinantayon," the vice mayor said.

Labella, who, for the first time, will be acting as mayor with an upcoming typhoon, said there is not much work to do since Mayor Rama has set up a system in cases of disasters.

"It's a matter of implementing na lang," he said, saying that he has been updating the mayor of the developments in the city through texts messages. /QSB (FREEMAN)