Bacolod City placed on ‘Blue Alert’
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

As Typhoon Tisoy (Kammuri) approached the southern portion of Luzon over the weekend, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia placed the city on “Blue Alert” status, which signals the second stage of a warning, wherein emergency preparations begin and rescue personnel are ordered to check-in and inform authorities of their available equipment in case of a rescue operation.
In a memorandum, the mayor directed the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO), barangay officials, and other allied agencies to prepare for the storm.
Leonardia said precautionary measures should be taken as the typhoon could cause flooding, landslides, storm surges, and accidents.
He added, there is also a need for contingency plans, such as the identification of possible evacuation centers and the preparation of rescue equipment, personnel, food and medicine.
The CDRRMO was also tasked to closely monitor the typhoon and coordinate with the involved national agencies and the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Based on the 11:00 a.m. weather bulletin, Tisoy was last spotted 705 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes.
The storm has maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts up to 170 kph.
Tisoy is said to be moving west at 25 kph.
Meanwhile, a 5:00 p.m. bulletin noted, PAGASA placed Bacolod City and Bago City under a Storm Signal No.1.
The provincial government also placed their personnel on “Blue Alert” last week in accordance with orders issued by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson./DGB, WDJ