In its 8 p.m. bulletin Wednesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) hoisted signal No. 2 over the northern and central portions of Cebu, specifically San Fernando, City of Naga, Toledo City, Balamban, Asturias, Minglanilla, City of Talisay, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Cordova, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, Danao City, Carmen, Tuburan, Catmon, Sogod, Tabuelan, Borbon, Tabogon, San Remigio, City of Bogo, Medellin, Daanbantayan, Bantayan Islands, Santa Fe and the Camotes Islands.
The rest of Cebu was placed under Signal No. 1.
Signal No. 2 means gale- to storm-force winds are prevailing or expected in 24 hours.
Signal No. 1 means strong winds were prevailing or expected in 36 hours.
Hundreds of passengers have been stranded as sea trips were cancelled Wednesday, while on land, Metro Cebu ramped up its defenses by suspending work, identifying disaster-prone areas and preparing evacuation sites and rescue personnel.
As of 7 p.m., the center of Odette was located at 535 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte, or 445 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.
The typhoon was forecast to make landfall in the vicinity of Surigao Provinces or the southern portion of Eastern Visayas Thursday afternoon, after which it is expected to cross the Central and Western Visayas regions before emerging over the Sulu Sea on Friday morning.
Pagasa said Odette may reach a peak intensity of 155 km/h prior to making landfall.
Also under Signal No. 2 in the Visayas were the central and southern portions of Eastern Samar, the central and southern portions of Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte and Bohol.
Under Signal No. 2 in Mindanao were Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Bukidnon, the eastern portion of Misamis Oriental, and Camiguin.
Other parts of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao were placed under Signal No. 1.
From Thursday early morning through Friday early morning, heavy to intense with at times torrential rains will be experienced over Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, the northern portion of Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, the northern portion of Agusan del Sur, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Southern Leyte, Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor, Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental.
Due to Typhoon Odette, the Coast Guard Station Central Cebu canceled trips starting 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 15, stranding hundreds of passengers.
Alvin Dagalea, commander of CGS Central Cebu, issued a Notice to Mariners suspending the sailing of all types of vessels and watercraft plying the areas of the Province of Cebu until sea conditions improve.
According to the Philippine Coast Guard 7, up to 338 passengers had been stranded due to the typhoon as of 4 p.m. Wednesday.
No work
In Cebu City, Mayor Michael Rama declared the suspension of work in both public and private establishments on Thursday, Dec. 16, due to Odette, with exemptions for private firms able to keep their employees safe during emergencies.
The mayor said there would be no work at Cebu City Hall Thursday, but offices involved in the delivery of basic services during disasters, such as the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Department of Social Welfare and Services, Cebu City Health Department, Cebu City Medical Center and other departments, would remain open.
“Generally, I am saying that there should be no work tomorrow public and private,” Rama said.
But private companies implementing “work from home” arrangements, as well as companies that can ensure the safety of their staff during emergencies, may allow their employees to work.
The mayor urged people to stay home.
He said a written directive from the Office of the Mayor was not required to suspend work or classes because in the event of a storm or disaster, such suspension is expected so people can brace themselves for the storm even without waiting for the strongest storm signal to arrive.
However, Rama said the Misa de Gallo would proceed as usual on Thursday, Dec. 16, for as long as a priest and sacristan would conduct the mass to start the nine-day novena to meet Christmas.
Rama said the Misa de Gallo could not be postponed, but people could opt to attend the mass virtually instead of in person at the church or chapel amid the storm.
Mandaue City
In Mandaue City, all 146 of the safety and rescue personnel of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) will be called to report for work once the city is placed under red alert status on Wednesday evening.
CDRRMO head Buddy Alain Ybañez told SunStar Cebu Wednesday that all their clustered personnel, specially those assigned in the low-lying barangays, were already instructed to inspect their equipment, and ensure that all emergency response teams in their areas of responsibility were all present.
He said they had readied their rescue vehicles.
The City Social Welfare and Services had also prepared relief kits and evacuation centers in all barangays, after having coordinated with the Department of Education for the use of classrooms as evacuation centers.
Police Lt. Col. Eleveo Marquez, Mandaue City Police Office deputy chief for operations, said the police will assist in evacuation and rescue and retrieval operations as the need arises.
“We will involve ourselves in public safety functions through the conduct of information dissemination (rekurida), giving warnings to the residents to be on alert while the typhoon will pass through our area. [We will also] assist in possible evacuation, rescue and retrieval operations and provide security to all of the city’s residents,” said Marquez.
On Wednesday morning, Central and northern Cebu, including Mandaue City, had been placed under Storm Signal No. 1, prompting them to place the city under blue alert status.
Ybañez said they are also coordinating with the Bureau of Fire Protection and other force multipliers on the conduct of the Misa de Gallo, stressing that Odette is expected to hit Cebu on Thursday or Friday.
He said changes may be made to the activity depending on the weather and recommendation of the Local Task Force.
Consolacion
In Consolacion town, Mayor Johannes Alegado convened with the local DRRMO and identified the barangays that are prone to flooding and landslides.
The barangays prone to flooding include Cansaga, Pitogo, Lamac, Nangka, Danglag, Tihaong, Pulpogan, Poblacion Oriental and Tayud.
Those prone to landslides are barangays Lanigpa, Panas, Panoypoy, Garing, Danglag, Polog, Tolotolo, Cabangahan and Sacsac.
At least 10 evacuation centers have been readied in the town that are multi-purpose gyms in barangays Tayud, Jugan, Pitogo, Pulpugan, Polog, Cabangahan, Tolotolo, Garing, Lanigpa and Laray Evacuation Center.
The Municipal Social Welfare has also prepared around 200 food packs as directed by Alegado.
Visayan Electric
Ahead of Odette’s arrival, power distributor Visayan Electric has also intensified its tree trimming to lessen the possibility of power interruptions caused by branches touching power lines.
It has also coordinated with local government units in its franchise area, as well as billboard owners to start taking these down for safety purposes.
Visayan Electric advised the public to immediately report fallen poles, broken wires and other electrical emergencies to its customer hotline 230-8326, Globe – 09662784225, TM – 09556221945, and Smart – 09691938244, or official Facebook and Twitter pages. (LMY, HBL, CTL, PAC, MKG, PR)
