Bacolod drainage clean-up continues to prevent floods.*BCCO photo
Work in government offices and classes at all levels in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City are suspended on Wednesday, July 23, due to expected heavy rainfall caused by the southwest monsoon.
The low-pressure area (LPA) monitored east of Aurora also developed into Tropical Depression Dante Tuesday afternoon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration said. It is not expected to directly hit Negros Occidental.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya announced the suspensions, citing the Office of the President’s Memorandum Circular No. 90.
Work suspension in the private sector is left to the discretion of their respective management.
Government offices with essential functions such as basic, health, and disaster response services will remain operational. Other agencies may continue to operate under approved alternate work arrangements, they said.
Bacolod City’s Business Express Service Offices at Ayala and SM Malls in Bacolod will be closed on Wednesday.
BLUE ALERT
The Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Emergency Operations Center was placed on Blue Alert effective 5 p.m. Tuesday.
This alert level was activated in anticipation of the impact of the Southwest Monsoon and Tropical Depression “Dante”, the provincial government announced.
Blue Alert means that all DRRMC personnel and equipment are placed on standby in case of emergency.
Concurrently, with the prevailing Alert Level 3 (magmatic unrest) over Kanlaon Volcano, the Red Alert status will remain in effect for close monitoring and coordination, it added.
PALACE ORDER
Malacañang on Tuesday ordered the suspension of work in government offices and classes at all levels in Metro Manila and 36 other areas, including Negros Occidental.
Other areas covered by MC 90 include Pangasinan, Zambales, Tarlac, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Palawan, Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, and Laguna.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said that the suspension was made upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.*