The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) in Negros Oriental warned local government units (LGUs) yesterday to take precautionary measures amid a heavy rainfall forecast by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

PDRRMO executive director Adrian Sedillo told the Philippine News Agency that while Negros Oriental would not be directly hit by Typhoon “Egay,” the southwest monsoon or habagat is expected to bring heavy rains to the province.

“The normal rainfall is supposed to be 2.5 to five millimeters per hour, but beyond that, the projection is expected to cause flooding and landslides. That is why we are keeping a close eye on the weather,” Sedillo said.

He noted water bodies, such as the Okoy River, had already swelled although no spilling over has been reported yet.

Rising floodwaters were also monitored in Buayahan spillway in nearby Valencia town and Barangay Calabnugan in Sibulan town.

Sedillo said there is also a big possibility of landslides due to some areas that have been saturated in the past days due to continuous rains.

During a virtual briefing with the Central Visayas regional DRRMO yesterday morning, Sedillo said the rainfall projection in Negros Oriental has become “alarming.”

Bayawan City earlier declared a suspension of classes.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard announced on its social media account that two trips out of nearby Siquijor Island have been canceled.

These are MV Cataingan of KHO Shipping, from Lazi Port (Siquijor) to Iligan, supposedly departing at 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 25, and MV Trisha Kerstin of Aleson Shipping scheduled to depart from the island to Dumaguete City at 1:30 p.m. yesterday.

So far, no flights have been canceled at the Dumaguete-Sibulan airport, Sedillo said.Sedillo said the next 24 hours would be “critical” as Typhoon “Egay” is expected to develop into a super typhoon. (PNA)