By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The province of Negros Occidental over the weekend was placed on “Blue Alert” status due to the anticipated bad weather that may be experienced in the province brought by Tropical Storm “Quinta.”

Based on an 11:00 a.m. bulletin issued by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Oct. 25, “Quinta” was last spotted 180 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes.

The storm is moving westward at 25 kilometers per hour (kph), with maximum sustained winds of 95 kph and gusts at 115 kph.

At the time of PAGASA’s weather bulletin, the storm was forecasted to make landfall over the Catanduanes-Albay-Sorsogon between yesterday afternoon or evening, with the storm expected to exit the country by Tuesday afternoon.

In an order signed by Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, he pointed out the storm may bring scattered light to moderate or at time heavy rains and thunderstorms in the province.

In view of the threat posed by “Quinta,” Lacson ordered all the local Disaster risk reduction and management offices (DRRMOs) in the province to be on “Blue Alert” status.

He issued orders to the DRRMOs to initiate proactive measures and to take appropriate precautionary actions for possible flash floods or landslides.

Lacson also ordered DRRMOs to review their respective contingency plans and mitigate possible risk in their respective areas.

PAGASA has also issued a General Flood Advisory for Western Visayas instructing the DRRMOs to monitor the main river and tributaries, such as the Malogo, Sicaba, Grande, Himogaan, Danao, Upper Tabanan, Sipalay, and Lower Ilog./DGB, WDJ