TACLOBAN CITY -- Local government units in Eastern Visayas have declared the suspension of classes and work on Monday as the state weather bureau raised storm warning signals in several provinces due to Typhoon Tisoy (international name Kammuri).
The first to declare the suspension of classes was Northern Samar Governor Edwin Ongchuan who issued a directive on Saturday.
Northern Samar, the closest province to Bicol Region has been anticipating bad weather.
In Northern Samar's capital town of Catarman town, some 253 families from three villages were evacuated to safer grounds due to flooding.
Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone, whose province is facing the Pacific Ocean, also declared the suspension of classes in all levels and work in government offices in the entire province.
Prior to the governor’s declaration, the local government units of Guiuan, Oras and Arteche already issued a local suspension in their respective areas.
Some towns in Samar province also declared the suspension of classes. These are the towns of Daram, Tagapul-an, Zumarraga, Sta. Margarita, Gandara, Marabut, Talolora, Matuginao, Paranas, San Jorge, Jiabong, Hinabangan, Pagsanghan, Tarangnan, Villareal, Calbiga, Sta. Rita, San Sebastian, and San Jose de Buan, and Calbayog City.
In Catbalogan City, Mayor Dexter Uy has suspended classes for all levels.
Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla also declared class suspension from elementary to high school in the entire province.
In Tacloban City, Mayor Alfred Romualdez also suspended classes in all levels and work in government offices except those engaged in disaster risk reduction and health and medical offices.
In its 11 a.m. severe weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Tisoy' was last seen 235 kilometers east southeast of Virac, Catanduanes, or 250 kilometers east of Juban, Sorsogon.
Tisoy packs maximum sustained winds of up to 150 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph and is moving west at 25 kph.
PAGASA expects Tisoy to make landfall over Catanduanes, Albay, or Sorsogon, between Monday night and Tuesday morning.
In Eastern Visayas, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 has been raised over Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, and Biliran provinces. The provinces of Leyte and Southern Leyte are currently under signal No. 1.
The state weather bureau said Tisoy is expected to bring occasionally heavy rains over Bicol Region, Samar provinces and Biliran, intermittent heavy rains over northern Cebu, northern Negros Island, Dinagat Islands, Siargao Island, and the rest of Eastern Visayas until Monday afternoon. (PNA)
