Cebu City, Cebu province placed under state of calamity

by Calvin Cordova, Manila Bulletin

CEBU CITY — Cebu City has been placed under a state of calamity due to the effects of typhoon Agaton.

Mayor Michael Rama made the declaration on Sunday afternoon as the city was still experiencing incessant rains.

Rama said landslides have been reported in barangays Pamutan, Toong, Sinsin, Budlaan and Busay.

Rama said residents living near rivers and coastal areas had been evacuated.

Upon Rama’s order, classes and government works were suspended on Monday (April 11)

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has also ordered the suspension of classes in all levels on Monday.

The Philippine Coast Guard-Central Visayas (PCG-7) reported that at least 300 passengers were stranded in various Cebu ports after several trips were cancelled.

The PCG 7 reported that a roll-on-roll-off (roro) vessel of Jomalia shipping submerged while docked in Consuelo Port, San Francisco town, Camotes Island.

The PCG said the vessel’s 14 crew members escaped unharmed after they decided to abandon the ship when huge waves started battering it.

PCG 7 said the submerged ferry had 5,430 liters of diesel oil and 68 liters of lube oil on board.

“Per latest info reveals that risk of oil spill is yet to be determined while inspection or monitoring is still in progress,” the PCG 7 said.