The Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) has escalated its alert status to “heightened alert”, effective 6 p.m. Friday, in preparation for the intensifying severe tropical storm “Opong”.
The upgrade from normal alert was mandated by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive for national and local agencies to prioritize citizen safety, the PRO NIR announced.
The decision is based on the latest Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) advisories, which indicate that “Opong” continues to strengthen, posing a serious threat to communities with maximum sustained winds of 130 kph and forecasts of heavy to torrential rainfall, it said.
PRO NIR Regional Director PBrig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay stressed the need for maximum preparedness, stating, “Your safety is our priority. Let us work together to minimize the risks and ensure that no lives are lost during this storm.”
All police units across Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, and Bacolod City have been ordered to undertake comprehensive, proactive measures to safeguard lives and property, he said.*
[sibwp_form id=1]