READY. Fisherfolk in Binmaley town, Pangasinan ready their boat to set sail in this undated photo. The PDRRMO has discouraged setting sail amid Typhoon Henry. (Photo by Hilda Austria)
MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) is imposing a “no swimming” policy in the coastal areas of Pangasinan until Typhoon Henry exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
In a phone interview Friday, PDRRMO operations officer Patrick Aquino said they are also strongly discouraging fishermen from setting sail amid the absence of a gale warning.
“We urged the local government units (LGUs) to strictly implement this to prevent any untoward incident with the presence of the weather disturbance in PAR,” Aquino said.
Although the province experiences light to moderate rain, about 19 LGUs in Pangasinan and six in La Union declared class suspension on Friday due to “Henry”.
According to the PDRRMO, the towns of Agno, Anda, Bani, Basista, Binalonan, Burgos, Dasol, Infanta, Mabini, Rosales, Pozorrubio, and Alaminos City have canceled classes on all levels.
Bolinao and Mangaldan towns have suspended their classes from pre-school to elementary; Asingan, San Fabian, and Sual towns from preschool to high school; and Manaoag and Laoac towns from preschool to senior high school.
Mabini town has also declared suspension of work in government offices, except those engaged in front-line services.
In a statement, La Union PDRRMO releasing officer Aureliano Rulloda III said Pugo town canceled its classes from pre-school to secondary and Aringay town, from pre-school to primary.
Bacnotan, Luna, and Bangar towns, and San Fernando City suspended their classes from pre-school to tertiary.
All provinces in the Ilocos region are under blue alert status due to “Henry”.
“Blue alert means continuous monitoring and dissemination of weather advisories, 24-hour public weather forecasts, gale warning, and other advisories to all municipal DRRMO through La Union 911, prepositioning of goods available for augmentation, and all PDRRMO personnel are requested to standby for possible mobilization,” he said.
Rulloda said all equipment has been checked and is ready for deployment.
Some towns and cities are experiencing light to moderate rain.
“Henry” has weakened as it begins to slowly move northwestward over the Philippine Sea east-northeast of Batanes.
The center of the eye of the typhoon was estimated at 365 km. east-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, based on the latest bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. (PNA)
