Classes suspended in Cebu province, city

Stranded passengers bound for Leyte eat their meals outside Terminal 1 at pier 1 after their vessels cancelled their trips in light of by typhoon Glenda. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

By 11 a.m. yesterday, classes were called off in all levels in Cebu province by Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III due to typhoon Glenda.

Northern Cebu and Cebu city were placed under typhoon signal number 1, prompting Mayor Michael Rama to also call for a half-day suspension of classes.

“Better to have early dismissal of classes so the children don’t have problems going home later if the rain and wind get stronger,” said the mayor in a press conference before noon.

The storm made landfall past 5 p.m. in Albay province in Luzon but Cebu officials took early precautions.

The state weather bureau Pagasa forecast light to moderate rains today and tomorrow in Cebu, with heavier rains in the evenings onward till Sunday.

Thirty-one vessels in Cebu were prohibited from travel out of the port.

Boat trips to the northern islands of Camotes and Bantayan were among those canceled by the Coast Guard.

As of 6 p.m. The weather bureau hoisted a “yellow alert” for Cebu city and northern Cebu which notifies the public to “be aware” that that flooding is possible in low-lying areas and land slides in mountain areas.

City Hall placed on standby 28 Kaohsiung buses in case there’s a need to transport residents from danger zones. Heavy equipment was also pre-positioned in the South Road Properties and a moutnain barangay.

Yesterday two fishing boats making its way from Iloilo province capsized in barangay Kawit in Medellin town, north Cebu.

The crew were rescued and brought safely to shore by first-responders from the town, said Wilson Ramos, executive officer of the province’s disaster management office.

“We advise fishermen especially in northern Cebu not to go to sea. We expect the waves to be very strong especially during high tide,” he said.

He said the provincial disaster management office remains on blue alert with 24-hour monitoring of Cebu’s towns and component cities.

Yesterday, staffers prepared chainsaws and other equipment in the Capitol. Ramos said it was up to the towns and cities to implement preventive evacuation.

Cebu schools division supt. Arden Monisit declared it suspecesion of glasses after the declaration was made by Governor Davide as head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Monisit said they still have to monitor the weather today to decide whether to continue or lift the suspension order.

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