CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga- Governor Dennis “Delta’ Pineda suspended classes in all levels both in public and private schools at 12:00 noon today, Dec. 2, until tomorrow.
The governor also suspended work in local and national government offices tomorrow in the whole province of Pampanga due to possible intermittent rains that would be brought about by tropical cyclone Tisoy in various parts of Central Luzon especially here in Pampanga as stipulated in his executive order (EO).
The governor said that he ordered the suspension to assure the safety and security of both students and employees.
“I don’t want to take risk. According to PAG-ASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration), we are expecting heavy rains later afternoon. I don’t want the students to be stuck during the rain. It’s better for us to be ready to any possibility, “ Governor Delta explained.
Prior to the declaration, the governor has also convened all members of the Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) to conduct a pre-disaster risk assessment for the possible onslaught of typhoon Tisoy in the province.
According to weather forecast issued by PAG-ASA as of 11:00 am, the province of Pampanga was already placed under Storm Signal No. 2.
In response, he instructed each member of the council to be on ‘full alert’ for the potential risk that Tisoy might bring especially to the upland and coastal areas of Pampanga.
Angelina Blanco, provincial disaster and risk reduction management officer (PDRRMO), assured everyone that the province is ‘ready’ and ’on stand-by’ for any possible occurrence.
“As instructed by our governor, we will start to conduct pre-emptive evacuation later in the afternoon until tomorrow in all coastal and upland areas which are high risk,” Blanco said.
“We can assure everyone that since November 23, all our resources and equipment were already prepositioned. All operation centers were already activated though our Local Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Offices (LDRRMO). When it comes to food and water, we have enough supplies of goods,” Blaco added.
Furthermore, when asked about the disaster preparedness plan for the ongoing 30th South East Asian Games in the province, the governor assured that athletes, delegates, and guests have nothing to worry about.
“I already asked our Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial Director, and PDRRMO Officer to coordinate with the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) about their contingency plan for the staging of games in case untoward incidence and unpleasant weather would hit the province,” he assured the media.