CABARROGUIS, Quirino – Bagyong ‘Agaton’ forces hundreds of residents in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental to evacuate to Dr. Vicente F. Gustillo Memorial National High School (DVFGMNHS) last April 12, 2022.
Photo: Vicentinian Disaster Risk Reduction Managament Team
366 evacuees took shelter at the DVFGMNHS gymnasium as of 3:40 p.m. as reported by the Vicentinian Disaster Risk Reduction Management (VDRRM). Teachers and staff, the VDRRM, and the Vicentinian Engaged Scouts Association (VESA) lent their services. The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Negros Oriental-Bacolod City Chapter, CSWD, officials from the LGUs, and private individuals also assisted in the evacuation and relief efforts on the campus.
In a Facebook post, VDRRM thanked the agencies involved in the joint relief operations. “On behalf of men and women of DVFGMNHS, VDRRM, and Mr. Dindo M. Ampalla, our Secondary School Principal IV, we would like to extend our sincerest appreciation to the… groups and individuals, who in one way or another shared their generosity in this difficult times,” the post stated.
PAGASA classified Bagyong ‘Agaton’ as a tropical depression as of 5:00 a.m., April 12. A Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 1 was raised over the Southern part of Masbate (Dimasalang, Cawayan, Palanas, Placer, Cataingan, Esperanza, Pio V. Corpuz). Eastern Samar, Samar, Northern Samar, Biliran, Leyte, and Southern Leyte were also affected. The Northeastern half of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin, City of Bogo, Tabogon, Borbon, Sogod) including Camotes Island, and Dinagat Islands were also classified as Signal No. 1.
The weather bulletin issued by PAGASA at 11:00 p.m describes ‘Agaton’ as weakened to a Low-Pressure Area. PAGASA lifted all wind signals raised earlier in the day but still warned of land and coastal hazards. These were attributed to the LPA and the nearby typhoon ‘Basyang’ (International name ‘Malakas’) which recently exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
At 3:00 a.m. today, the LPA was estimated based on all available data at 65 km Southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, and is forecasted to move east away from the Samar-Leyte landmass as it merges with ‘Basyang’.
Meanwhile, PAGASA tracks Bagyong ‘Basyang’ at 1,545 km east of Baler, Aurora. ‘Basyang’ has sustained winds of 150 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 185 km/h. It is moving northeast at 10 kph.
