The provinces of Masbate, Sorsogon, and Negros Oriental ordered the suspension of classes on Monday, November 3, due to projected heavy rains and storm surge on Monday brought by Severe Tropical Storm Tino (international name: Kalmaegi).
In Sorsogon, Governor Edwin Hamor said classes at all levels in public and private schools were suspended to ensure the safety and welfare of the public.
Local officials were advised to monitor their areas and implement necessary precautionary measures.
In Masbate, Governor Richard Kho ordered the suspension of classes due to the threat of storm surge and flooding in low-lying areas.
Kho advised the public to avoid the landslide-prone and coastal areas.
In the 11 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned of a high risk of ‘life-threatening’ storm surge in the next 48 hours in Masbate, Sorsogon, and other provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao within the path of the storm.
Several local government units in Visayas – the provinces of Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, Cebu, Bohol, Iloilo and Capiz and the cities of Cebu, Iloilo and Bacolod – have also suspended classes and have gone on high alert, placing their disaster response teams on full response or emergency mode, as they braced for the onslaught of Tino, which was expected to reach typhoon category within the next 12 hours, according to Pagasa’s 11 p.m. bulletin.
Pagasa has raised the Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 over the southern portion of Eastern Samar (Guiuan, Salcedo, Mercedes) in the Visayas and Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands and Dinagat Islands in Mindanao.
Under TCWS Signal No. 1 were the southern portion of Sorsogon (Barcelona, Bulusan, Magallanes, Gubat, Santa Magdalena, Casiguran, Juban, Bulan, Irosin, Matnog) and Masbate, including Ticao Island in Luzon.
In the Visayas, under TCWS No. 1 were: the rest of Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Cebu including Camotes Islands and Bantayan Islands, Bohol, the northern and central portions of Negros Oriental (Canlaon City, Vallehermoso, City of Guihulngan, La Libertad, Jimalalud, Tayasan, Ayungon, Bindoy, Mabinay, Manjuyod, Bais City, City of Tanjay, Amlan, San Jose), the northern and central portions of Negros Occidental (San Carlos City, Isabela, La Carlota City, Cadiz City, Bago City, Enrique B. Magalona, Toboso, Valladolid, Salvador Benedicto, Sagay City, San Enrique, City of Kabankalan, Hinigaran, Bacolod City, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Murcia, City of Escalante, Binalbagan, Calatrava, Silay City, Pulupandan, City of Himamaylan, City of Victorias, City of Talisay, Pontevedra, Manapla), Guimaras, the northern and central portions of Iloilo (Calinog, New Lucena, Maasin, Estancia, Batad, Oton, Concepcion, Pavia, Dueñas, Balasan, Barotac Nuevo, Ajuy, Iloilo City, Anilao, San Dionisio, San Miguel, Mina, Santa Barbara, Barotac Viejo, Leganes, Carles, Dingle, Zarraga, Bingawan, Cabatuan, Alimodian, Dumangas, San Rafael, San Enrique, Badiangan, Banate, City of Passi, Pototan, Lambunao, Lemery, Sara, Janiuay) and Capiz.
In Mindanao, TCWS No. 1 was hoisted over the rest of Surigao del Norte, the northern portion of Surigao del Sur (Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, Lanuza, Cortes, City of Tandag, San Miguel, Tago, Bayabas, Cagwait), the northeastern portion of Agusan del Sur (Sibagat), and the northern portion of Agusan del Norte (Kitcharao, Jabonga, Santiago, Tubay, City of Cabadbaran, Remedios T. Romualdez, Magallanes