CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews / 5 February) — The Department of Public Works and Highways in Region 10 temporarily closed a major road link famous for its mountain resorts in Claveria, Misamis Oriental, and another mountain highway in Cagayan de Oro City as Tropical Storm “Basyang” (international name: Penha) approached Mindanao on Thursday. Mayor Rolando Uy declared the suspension of work for all government offices in Cagayan de Oro from noon Thursday until Friday noon, following his earlier suspension of face-to-face classes for all elementary and secondary schools. In Iligan City, Mayor Frederick Siao also suspended classes in all levels, both public and private, from Thursday until Friday, based on the recommendation of the Iligan City Risk Reduction Management Office. The Office of Civil Defense issued a “heavy rainfall warning” for Davao de Oro, Bukidnon, and Misamis Oriental, urging preparedness for severe rain, floods, and landslides. DPWH-10 closed the Gingoog City-Claveria-Villanueva highway due to landslide risks and later shut the Lumbia-Uguiaban Bypass Road in Barangay Dansolihon, installing warning signs and road barriers with traffic personnel on-site. In Lanao del Norte, several municipalities suspended classes in all levels, including Pantao Ragat, Baloi, Linamon, Bacolod, Maigo, Tangcal, and Magsaysay. As of 4 p.m. Thursday, PAGASA reported Tropical Storm Basyang 150 km east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, moving northwestward at 25 kph. The Northern Mindanao Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council estimated Basyang could affect 423,886 persons or 84,772 families across 1,299 barangays in Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon, Camiguin, and Lanao del Norte.
