By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

With Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 hoisted over the whole of Negros island, the local government units of Kabankalan City and the town of Cauayan are now bracing for the onslaught of Typhoon “Odette.”

In Kabankalan City, Mayor Pedro Zayco called for a meeting of all departments, offices and agencies to prepare for the weather disturbance.

A recorida will go around the city’s major streets and different barangays to inform residents to prepare.

The city’s command center has also been activated to coordinate activities.

The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and Kabalikat CIVICOM were tasked with communication, while the distribution of food packs for those to be evacuated will fall under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The Kabankalan City Police Station and the Bureau of Fire Protection were also ordered to ready their rescue vehicles, while the Department of Education (DepEd) in the city was told to prepare school rooms for evacuation.

Kabankalan’s flood prone areas were identified as Sitio Panique, Brgy. Binicuil; Sitio Utod, Brgy. Hilamonan; and Sitio Patay, Brgy. Camugao, while the landslide prone areas were Brgy. Aorong and Sitio Bulad, Brgy. Salong.

Zayco called on residents to be alert and monitor the weather.

“If there is a need to evacuate, please do so voluntarily,” the mayor said.

Meanwhile, in the town of Cauayan, Mayor John Rey Tabujara said the town is also now prepared for “Odette.”

The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has reactivated all involved agencies.

Evacuation centers are also ready and five flood prone areas have been identified and alerted.

These are barangays Guiljungan, Tiling, Poblacion, Caliling, and Inayawan.

“Force evacuation is advised when heavy rains start,” he said./DGB, WDJ