Severe Tropical Storm Odette (international name Rai) has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 14, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Due to the severity of the weather disturbance, Mayor Evelio Leonardia has issued an advisory immediately activating the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and called all barangay disaster risk reduction and management committees (BDRRMCs), government instrumentalities and the general public to be prepared.

The mayor also advised communities in low-lying, flood-prone areas and those situated along shorelines or near bodies of water to stay alert.

The mayor, in his advisory, directed all BDRRMCs to activate their Barangay Emergency Operations Center, constantly monitor weather advisories, and conduct recoridas to warn residents along shorelines for possible surge, floods and landslides.

Dr. Anna Maria Laarni Pornan, Bacolod’s DRRMO officer, disclosed that Leonardia also told village heads to identify evacuation centers, preposition relief food and non-food supplies as well as rescue equipment, prohibit fishing activities when the seas get rough and observe minimum health protocols especially when already at the evacuation centers./WDJ