Local News: Leonardia Suspends Work, Classes

For safety and protection of children in the school against the supposed Level 2 tsunami that was feared to hit the Visayas Region notably the coastal areas and Bacolod City yesterday, Mayor Evelio Leonardia has issued executive order, suspending the work and classes in all public and private offices and institutions in the City of Bacolod. The order was also a precaution for the people relevant to the aftershocks and earthquake alert level number 2 that was raised all over the city.

Bacolod City yesterday, Mayor Evelio Leonardia has issued executive order, suspending the work and classes in all public and private offices and institutions in the City of Bacolod. The order was also a precaution for the people relevant to the aftershocks and earthquake alert level number 2 that was raised all over the city.

The tremor was felt before noontime yesterday that the people seemed to panic. Lots of women and children have complained of nausea due to the shocks they felt.

As reported by PHIVOLCS in the tri-media, Bacolod City and the rest of Western Visayas have registered magnitude 5 of tremor, except Iloilo City with magnitude of 6.2.

Due to the tremor, employees in various offices and establishments went out of the building, the pupils in the elementary schools and students in the high schools and colleges were sent home after receiving the suspension order from the mayor.

Some business establishments have closed to evade damage on lives of employees and possible looting of stocks.

PO2 Nimrod Escamilla of the Philippine Coast Guard Station in Bacolod reported that they have cancelled the trips of all vessels including fishing boats from past noontime until 3:45 P.M. No damage to properties and lives was reported, Escamilla said.

In Bacolod City, few buildings were reported to have cracked due to shock. Power from Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) was interrupted for almost an hour. There were complaints from cellphone users that Globe and Smart services were delayed after the tremor.

Text message from a pastor in Toledo City stated that the port in Toledo has dried up after the quake so it is impossible for the vessels to dock.

Col. Oscar Lactao, commanding officer, 303rd Infantry Brigade, forwarded the report that the concrete bridge and public market in Guihulngan have collapsed and one person was squeezed in between the wall, same with the bridge in Molobolo, Vallehermoso town that collapsed due to the strong tremor. Motorists and travelers said travelling from San Carlos City to Cebu becomes difficult due to the collapse of the said bridges. In a radio broadcast, it was reported there were 13 deaths and 40 missing in Negros Oriental, as of press time.
In Negros Occidental and Bacolod City, no reported death or injury was reported.

The tsunami Level 2 report was normalized in mid-afternoon in Eastern Negros Occidental. But during the tremor, it was reported that the water waves have heightened to 2 meters but became 1 foot when it reached the shoreline.

In Kabankalan City, window glasses of a mall were broken.

In Iloilo City, the main thoroughfares encountered heavy traffic when the students and employees went out due to the tremor.

In Roxas City, Mayor Alan Celino has also dismissed the employees and suspended the classes. No damage report as of press time.

Bacolod City Mayor Leonardia has met with City Legal Officer Joselito Bayatan, PIO-OIC Rodel Parcon, City Engineer’s Office OIC Belly Aguillon, Office of Building Official OIC Ephraim Hechanova, with Executive Assistants Elma Advincula and Nelu Barcoma, Engr. Allan Agbones and Arch. Jarez Encabo to mobilize the team with the Bacolod Fire Department, CENECO and telecommunication companies to conduct immediate inspection of bridges, poles and buildings for structural integrity, and to report the results soonest possible.

Leonardia also coordinated with DPWH District Engineer Rey Venturina to also inspect the structural integrity of bridges and buildings under their jurisdiction.

“We need to reassure the public that our structures were able to absorb the stress of the earthquake,” Leonardia said.*