LGUs told to be ready, monitor weather

The faithful plod through rain-riddled streets to attend Mass (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA).

While Cebu may experience a rainy Christmas this week, the state weather bureau Pagasa said it remains unclear if there will be a tropical depression or not.

“There is a fifty percent chance that it will form into tropical cyclone and there is also fifty percent chance that it will just dissipate,” Pagasa Mactan weather specialist Romeo Aguirre told Cebu Daily News.

The weather advisory came as the provincial government reminded towns and cities to always be prepared for emergency cases.

If the presence of northeast monsoon (amihan) in the coming days turns strong, then the LPA will just dissipate, Aguirre said.

Last night, Pagasa Mactan’s model forecast showed that a tropical cyclone may enter the country on Thursday or Friday this week and may leave next Tuesday.

“During November and December, it is not certain if a tropical cyclone will develop because of northeast monsoon,” Aguirre said.

For December, at least one to two tropical cyclones are expected.

If they come to pass, they will be named Nina and Ofel, Aguirre said.

December’s projected rainfall is 148.1 millimeters. Last night, Pagasa Mactan recorded 112 millimeters of rain.

City residents are advised to bring umbrellas and raincoats for what is expected to be a rainy Christmas week. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA).

Weather conditions are expected to improve today and tomorrow as the northeast monsoon winds are seen to grow weaker.

As this developed, local governments were reminded by the provincial government to monitor the weather 24/7 in order to respond to any emergency situation.

Baltazar Tribunalo, chief of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), said the rainy Christmas week means the strong likelihood of landslides and flash floods in mountain barangays.

Tribunalo said barangays should monitor weather updates given by the state weather bureau Pagasa since they are the frontliners in responding to emergency cases.

“I am calling on local disaster risk reduction and management councils, especially responders. Awareness should be on the village level, what we call as community-based responders to prevent casualties. It is very dangerous to be caught in a landslide or flash flood,” Tribunalo said.

Tribunalo reminded public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers to always be on alert when it comes to natural and manmade hazards that could potentially cause accidents at any time.