By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental has been placed under “blue alert” status due to heavy rains expected during the onslaught of Typhoon “Egay” this week.

Irene Bel Ploteña, Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD) head, said “Egay” will not directly hit Negros Occidental, but they are still expecting heavy rains as the typhoon continues to strengthen.

As of yesterday afternoon, “Egay” was spotted east of Aurora province’s Baler town, with maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts at 185 kph.

The state weather bureau, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the typhoon is moving slowly.

Pagasa forecasts that the storm will continue to intensify and reach super typhoon category today or early Wednesday, July 26.

Meanwhile, Ploteña said they have already received reports of evacuations in Bago City and the municipalities of San Enrique, Valladolid and Binalbagan due to the rains being experienced in the province.

The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office has already prepared relief goods for affected residents.

Ploteña also mentioned that the water level in the Pangiplan River Irrigation System in Himamaylan City and the Bago River Irrigation System is currently normal.

The PDMPD officer urges the public to remain vigilant as sudden weather changes may occur./DGB, WDJ