Moreno, Emano raise alert levels over threat of ‘Marce’

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent

CITY hall and the capitol raised the alert levels in the city and province, respectively, even as officials mobilized their response teams as tropical cyclone “Marce” became stronger and threatened the city and Misamis Oriental and at least a dozen other areas yesterday.

Allan Porcadilla, city disaster risk reduction management officer, said Mayor Oscar Moreno ordered a 24-hour monitoring of the situation, including all water gauges along the Cagayan  River and Iponan River.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) placed Misamis Oriental and 12 other provinces under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal  No. 1 after the low pressure area east of Mindanao developed into tropical depression.

The other provinces are Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Camiguin, Southern Leyte, Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor, Negros Oriental, and Negros Occidental.

Moreno raised the protocol alert level here to “red,” according to Porcadilla. He said it would remain that way until Pagasa warning remains.

Porcadilla said city hall  also raised the protocol alert level in flood-prone villages to “yellow”–meaning, residents should start preparing for  possible evacuations. City hall has also started preparing evacuation centers and rescue equipment.

The Department of Education (Deped) suspended classes for all pre-schoolers in public and private schools.

In Misamis Oriental, Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano raised the “blue alert” level at the capitol, said provincial disaster risk reduction management officer Fernando Dy.

Dy said Emano sent the capitol’s heavy equipment to known flood-prone areas in anticipation of the adverse effects of “Marce.”

Dy said various Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices across Misamis Oriental have been mobilized.

Pagasa weather forecaster  Ann Fortich said the province and city and areas within a 300-km diameter would continue to see “moderate to heavy rain” for 36 hours since 11 am yesterday.

Marce was expected to make a landfall last night in Surigao del Norte with winds blowing 45 kilometers per hour near the center, and gustiness  winds of 55 kilometers per hour. It is expected in Sicatuna, Bohol today, and be out of Philippine territory on Monday.