The Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) yesterday announced they will remain on heightened alert after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned of a new weather disturbance just outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

PDRRMO head Zeaphard Caelian said PAGASA is tracking another weather disturbance around 1,990 kilometers east of Mindanao.

He noted, it is still too early to determine if the storm, which would be named Vinta once it becomes a tropical depression, will strike the Visayas region, including Negros.

However, PAGASA reported they are predicting two possible scenarios, either Vinta makes landfall near the Visayas-Mindanao area before Christmas day or is redirected towards Japan.

Caelian advised the public, especially those scheduled to go on Christmas vacation, to monitor media reports.

Meanwhile, the PDRRMO head said Urduja, which weakened into a tropical depression yesterday, did not cause any damage or flooding in Negros Occidental, although hundreds of passengers in San Carlos City were stranded over the weekend after PAGASA declared the province under Storm Signal #1

The storm signal has since been lifted./DGB, WDJ