Ruby nears, storms signals up

CEBU IS READY. Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III leads Capitol preparations for supertyphoon Ruby (International name: Hagupit). With him is (left-right) provincial disaster risk reduction and management chief Baltazar Tribunalo, provincial board members Celestino Martines III and PB member Miguel Magpale. CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA

Classes were ordered suspended in Cebu City and province today till Saturday to prepare for ‘Ruby’ which is now a supertyphoon approaching with winds over 200 kilometers per hour.

Gov. Hilario Davide III  yesterday met with mayors, reminding them to start evacuations in coastal areas before the storm hits land.
It was still sunny weather yesterday in Cebu, but the storm will definitely make landfall and cut across the Visayas on Saturday, said weather forecasters.

Public storm signal no. 1 was raised  in north Cebu, Bantayan and Camotes Islands, and Bohol among parts of Visayas and Mindanao yesterday ahead of Ruby’s landfall over Samar on Saturday afternoon.

The storm had 205 kph center winds and gusts of 240 kph yesterday  when it entered the Philippine area of responsibility.
It will be as strong as 2012 typhoon ‘Pablo’ and as widespread as typhoon Yolanda of 2013 with its diameter of 700 kilometers, said forecasters of the state-owned PAGASA.

The Joint Typhoon Weather Center in Hawaii has categorized the storm as a “supertyphoon”, tracking west-northwest with waves reaching 50 feet.

Residents in the eastern parts of Samar, Northern Leyte, Bicol, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur were alerted to expect storm surges of up to four meters, the height of a one-story building.

The alert may seem premature, but it would give coastal residents enough time to prepare said Pagasa administrator Vicente Malano.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

In Cebu City, Mayor Michael Rama announced the suspension of classes in public and private schools starting Thursday evening till Saturday.

No declaration has been made about suspending work.

Employees in the Provincial Capitol were told to report this morning but will be dismissed by the afternoon, leaving a skeletal force for the weekend.

Several private schools in Cebu city let off students and employees starting today.

Cebu Institute of Technology-University suspended both classes and work today until Sunday for graduate school.  The school’s Founder’s Day activities were also postponed until further notice.

Classes at all levels are suspended today and tomorrow at the University of San Jose-Recoletos. University of San Carlos president Fr. Dionisio Miranda SVD made a similar announcement.

The University of Cebu called off classes starting 5:30 p.m. yesterday.

Cities of Mandaue, Talisay and Toledo in Cebu have also suspended classes, along with Bohol province and Gihulngan City in Negros Oriental.

The storm may not be as strong as Yolanda but “we should prepare and expect the worst,” Governor Davide told around 20 Cebu mayors and multi-sectoral representatives in an emergency meeting at the Capitol Social Hall.

Capitol workers will keep a  skeletal force until Sunday. Work in local government units will be suspended, said Davide.

“We are encouraging private offices to call off work when the typhoon strengthens,” said the governor.

Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante, who chairs the League of Municipalities in the Philippines (LMP) Cebu Chapter, said all towns have their disaster response plans and evacuation centers ready.

He urged all towns to purchase satellite phones in case communication lines bog down.

Pre-emptive evacuation is supposed to start today in high-risk coastal areas.

“We aim for zero casualty.  None will be lost, wounded and no one will die,” said Baltazar Tribunalo, the province’s disaster management chief.

There is an adequate supply of 35,000 sacks of rice stores in warehouse of the National Food Authority (NFA), said acting provincial manager Grace Rodriguez.

Towns can purchase a sack of rice at P1,250, she said.

Mayors from San Remigio, Daanbantayan, Sogod, Consolacion, Santander, Liloan, Cordova, Tabogon, Toledo, Dumanjug, Malabuyoc, Alcoy, Toledo and representatives from other local government units (LGUs) attended yesterday’s meeting.

Representatives from the church, energy sector, police and military were also present along with Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, members of the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) and all Capitol department heads.

Mayors were given a quick briefing on Cebu’s hazard prone areas for landslides, sinkholes and heavy flooding by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-7).

Chief geologist Al Emil Berador said “On extreme events, even if there are a lot of trees supporting a steep area, the occurrence of a landslide is still very possible. No amount of vegetation can hold the ground in deep landslides,” he explained.

North Cebu mayors reported their storm preparations.

In San Francisco town, municipal workers helped residents prune tree branches.

In Medellin, the town took down its giant Christmas tree at the town plaza.

Daanbantayan Mayor Augusto Corro said they’ve purchased rice and canned goods, and evacuation areas are all in place.

“We’re done our jobs. We’re definitely more prepared now,” said the mayor.