DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/19 January) — Twenty-four of 28 flights cancelled due to tropical depression Agaton are flights between Manila and Mindanao, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said in its 6 p.m. update on Sunday.
Of 24 cancelled flights, 14 are between Manila and Cagayan de Oro, six between Manila and Butuan and four between Manila and Surigao.
Public Storm Warning Signal 1 continues to be raised over six provinces and six cities in Mindanao: Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley, the two provinces badly hit by super typhoon Pablo in December 2012; as well as Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur; Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur; and the cities therein: Davao, Digos, Tagum, Panabo, Samal and Mati.
Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Malanyaon and Compostela Valley Governor Arturo Uy on Sunday ordered the suspension of classes at all levels on Monday.
In Davao City, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the suspended at the pre-school, kinder, elementary and secondary levels in both public and private schools, also on Monday.
In Davao del Norte, classes in the Kindergarten, Elementary and High School in public and private schools are suspended on Monday.
In Cagayan de Oro City, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office has announced that classes are also suspended Monday for pre-school and elementary students.
Due to possible rain-induced landslides, high school are suspended in eight of the city’s 80 barangays: Besigan, Tignpoloan, Tumpagon, Pigsan-an, Tuburan, Tagpangi, Taglimao and San Simon.
Agaton’s movement from January 17 was five kilometers per hour but slowed down to “almost stationary” by Saturday afternoon, resumed at 5 kph Sunday morning, accelerated to 7 kph by late morning and as of 4 p.m. was moving southwest at 5 kph.
Weather Bulletin 10 of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued at 5 p.m. Sunday said the center of tropical depression Agaton as of 4 p.m. was estimated at 215 km southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del sur or 220 km east of Davao City, its strength at maximum winds of 55 kph and was forecast to move southwest at 5 kph.
Agaton is expected to be at 155 km southeast of Davao City Monday afternoon; at 60 km southeast of General Santos City by Tuesday afternoon; and by Wednesday afternoon, is expected to be at 205 km southwest of General Santos City or out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility. (MindaNews)