The state weather bureau placed Bacolod City and 29 other local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental under Wind Signal No. 1 as Tropical Depression “Wilma”’ approached Friday evening, Dec. 5.
Heavy rains are expected during the weekend, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.
There were 595 residents in Hinigaran town and 1,043 in Isabela , Negros Occidental, who preemptively evacuated Friday evening.
More traumatized by previous floods were also expected to preemptively evacuate in other LGUs, Irene Bel Ploteña, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said.
The center of Tropical Depression Wilma was estimated to be 135 kilometers East of Borongan City, Eastern Samar as of 11 p.m. Friday, Pagasa said.
It had maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center, with gustiness of up to 55 km/h.
Pagasa placed Sagay City, Escalante City, Toboso, Calatrava, Enrique B. Magalona, Victorias City, Manapla, Cadiz City, Bacolod City, Talisay City, Silay City, Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City, Murcia, Bago City, La Carlota City, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Valladolid, Pulupandan, San Enrique, Pontevedra, Hinigaran, Isabela, Binalbagan, Himamaylan City, Kabankalan City, Ilog, Cauayan and Candoni in Negros Occidental under Wind Signal No. 1.
Siquijor, the northern and central portions of Negros Oriental that include Guihulngan City , Canlaon City, Vallehermoso, La Libertad, Jimalalud, Tayasan, Ayungon, Bindoy, Manjuyod, Bais City, Pamplona, Tanjay City, Amlan, San Jose, Dumaguete City, Valencia, Sibulan, Bacong and Mabinay are also under Signal No. 1.*