Antique residents are encouraged to secure their homes and help their barangay officials in clearing waterways to prevent flooding in preparation for Tropical Storm Basyang.

Antique Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) head Broderick Train, particularly cited the towns of Anini-y, Tobias Fornier and Hamtic, to do the necessary preparations, although other municipalities are also advised to get ready because of the wide rain band of Basyang.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is being hoisted over the province, but Typhoon Basyang is expected to pass Antique on Friday evening.

“We expect a more serious effect of Typhoon Basyang on the three adjacent municipalities based on the PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) weather forecast,” he said in an interview on Thursday, following their Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment meeting.

Residents are told to prune branches near their houses and secure the roofing.

“Waterways or canals have to be cleared of garbage so that the flow of the rainwater will not be hampered,” Train said.

The emergency operations center of the province, municipalitis and barangays are already on Blue Alert Status; while personnel are on standby and ready to respond in case of imminent danger.

“The municipal and barangay DRRM Offices are also advised to implement pre-emptive evacuation whenever the threat becomes imminent,” he said.

The local government of San Jose de Buenavista has already suspended in-person classes for Kindergarten. (PNA)