DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/18 March) – City Mayor Sara Duterte has suspended classes in all levels of public and private schools on Tuesday after the city and several areas in southern Mindanao were placed under public storm warning signal no.
1 due to Tropical Depression “Chedeng.
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In a proclamation, Duterte said the City Government of Davao is responsible for ensuring the safety of its “constituents in the occurrence of natural calamities that may endanger their lives and properties.”
She added the local government is duty-bound to “safeguard the welfare of the students and school children who may be affected by possible flooding of streets and landslides in the city’s mountainous areas due to heavy rains.”
The Philippine Coast Guard has also canceled the trips of all vessels from Sta. Ana Wharf bound for Kaputian and Talicud islands starting 6am Monday.
Based on the weather advisory of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued 5:00pm Monday, “Chedeng” was spotted around 285 kilometers east southeast of Davao City at 4pm.
The storm was moving west at 15 kilometers per hour. It has maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 60kph.
PAGASA added it is expected to land over the southeastern coast of Davao Oriental and/or the eastern coast of Davao Occidental on Tuesday morning and will weaken into a Low Pressure Area while crossing Mindanao.
Public storm warning signal no.1 has been hoisted over Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao City, and southern portion of Davao del Norte including Island Garden City of Samal, and eastern portion of North Cotabato, eastern portion of South Cotabato, eastern portion of Sarangani and eastern portion of Sultan Kudarat in Soccsksargen.
According to PAGASA, scattered to at times widespread moderate to heavy rains may be experienced over most parts of Mindanao, especially over portions of Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Bangsamoro, and the Zamboanga Peninsula on Tuesday.
It said the disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned and people living in areas identified to be at high risk of flooding or landslide are advised to undertake appropriate actions and continue monitoring for updates from its Regional Services Divisions. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)