Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo yesterday reiterated his appeal to local government units in the province to take pro-active measures ahead of the expected arrival of a super-typhoon in the Philippine area of responsibility Thursday or Friday.

The governor’s directive for the pre-positioning of supplies and logistics, and of rescue groups, remain in place even after tropical depression Wilma changed course and was downgraded into a low pressure area Monday, executive officer Adrian Sedillo of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

After “Wilma”, another tropical storm, with international codename “Haiyan”, is expected to enter the PAR tomorrow morning and will be locally named “Yolanda”.

LGUs are requested to undertake pre-emptive evacuation of residents living in flood-prone and coastal areas, and along river banks and other bodies of water.

Degamo highlighted the role of the LGUs and their DRRM councils in disaster mitigation.

Pagasa weather forecaster Jori Loiz said “Haiyan” will be the 24th storm to enter the country this year, and was estimated at 2,026-kilometer east of Mindanao with maximum sustained winds of 115 kph and gustiness of up to 146 kph. It is forecast to move west at 25 kph.

He added that once the tropical storm maintains its direction and speed, it is expected to make a landfall in Eastern Visayas on Friday.*JFP