Work, classes suspended in Bohol due to Odette

TAGBILARAN CITY – The Bohol provincial government ordered on Wednesday the suspension of work and classes due to the threat of Typhoon Odette (International name: Rai).

In his Executive Order No. 64,  Governor Arthur Yap suspended classes in all levels in public and private schools, work in both private and government offices on Dec. 16-17.

However, personnel involved in public safety services, emergency response, medical services and disaster response shall continue with their operations.

He also directed the Department of Education (DepEd)'s school districts, through their district supervisors or principals, to immediately prepare their school buildings, facilities and other structures to serve as additional evacuation centers.

Hundreds of residents were evacuated on Wednesday as authorities conducted a massive pre-emptive evacuation.

In Candijay town, there were 470  families or 1,690  individuals who were brought to different evacuation centers.

Jeryl Lacang-Fuentes, head of the municipal disaster risk reduction and management office,  said Mayor Christopher Tutor, who chairs the Candijay Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council or DRRMC, ordered the evacuation especially those who live in the upland ares which were vulnerable to landslide and flooding.

The evacuees are from Cadapdapan (26 individuals), Cambane (130 individuals), Luan (246 individuals), Pagahat (18 individuals), Panadtaran (152 individuals), Panas (749 individuals), San Isidro (18 individuals), Tawid (7 individuals), Canawa (115), Cogtong (414 individuals), La Union (13 inviduals), Lungsodaan (19 indivuals) and Tugas (9 individuals).

“We aim for zero casualty. We want to evacuate them for safety and security reasons,” said Fuentes.

She said the evacuees were being given proper assistance by the local social workers and health authorities of Candijay. Relief goods were distributed to the families.

Help desks have also been assigned at the evacuation centers to help impose strict compliance to health protocols – wearing face masks, face shields, and physical distancing – among evacuees.

At least 303 residents of Bagongbanwa , Bilangbilangang Island and Ubay Islands in Tubigon town were brought to the town's Cultural and Sports Center.

The municipal government said the barangay officials accepted the recommendation from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to conduct pre-emptive evacuation of residents of island-barangays.

Tubigon Mayor William Jao and Vice-Mayor Rene Villaber visited the evacuees and checked their condition and the immediate needs.

The Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO), through Rey Envidiado, provided meals and other basic necessities.

There are more evacuees expected as some barangay officials requested for assistance for evacuation from other areas including Pangapasan Island where there may be about 50 possible evacuees.

Due to threats of huge waves, about 260 individuals from the island-barangay of Mantatao in Calape town were brought to evacuation centers in mainland.

Personnel of Calape Fire Station said that Calape Fire Station and Calape Police Station helped in the preemptive evacuation.

According to the latest weather bulletin issued by Pagasa at 8 p.m. on Wednesday,  Signal No. 2 was raised over Bohol province.

The center of Odette was last seen 485 km East of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur moving westward at 20 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center with strong winds or higher extending outwards up to 330 km from the center. -- BAP, GMA News