Northern Mindanao region braces for a wet Christmas eve. (Screen grab from PAGASA)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Misamis Oriental's Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) on Saturday is on blue alert as residents celebrate the holidays despite looming rainy weather in many parts of Northern Mindanao region.
PDRRMO head Johny Dy said the alert level has already been cascaded to local DRRMOs as they only not monitor the weather condition, but also the activities related to Christmas revelries which include the use of pyrotechnic materials.
"As we celebrate Christmas and New Year, we are on standby to look into incidents where fireworks and firecrackers are involved, as some are still using illegal firecrackers," he said in an interview.
Dy also said the eight provincial hospitals are also on blue alert.
So far, there are no reported cases of fireworks-related injuries.
Meanwhile, the weather bureau issued strong to gale force winds associated with the northeast monsoon in the next 24 hours.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)- Mindanao Regional Services Division raised a yellow rainfall warning in parts of Camiguin, Misamis Occidental and Zamboanga del Norte provinces on Saturday.
Later in the day, the weather station reduced the category to "light to moderate" status, which recorded some heavy rain showers "with lightning and strong winds due to thunderstorms," of which Misamis Oriental and other nearby provinces in Northern Mindanao are also included. (PNA)
