By Geefe P. Alba
and Shiela Mae Butlig
Correspondents
TROPICAL Depression ‘Wilma’ brought occasional heavy rain showers to the region on Friday, prompting local chief executives to declare class suspensions and authorities to halt sea travel.
Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Rolando A. Uy issued Executive Order No. 0473-2025A, suspending face-to-face classes for day care centers, kindergarten, and secondary levels today, Dec. 5.
It is now effectively a long weekend for students in neighboring Misamis Oriental as well, after executive orders were issued suspending classes at all levels, both public and private, as a precautionary measure against possible flooding.
The suspension covers Gingoog City and the municipalities of Magsaysay, Balingasag, Lagonglong, Salay, Balingoan, Kinoguitan, Sugbongcogon, Tagoloan, and Binuangan.
Travel Suspensions and Strandees Sea travel has been heavily impacted by the weather disturbance.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported monitoring ports in Northeastern Mindanao, including Nasipit and Hayanggabon in Surigao del Norte. As of the latest advisory, 237 drivers or helpers, 91 rolling cargoes, and three vessels are currently stranded. A total of 19 vessels are taking shelter.
Meanwhile, the Coast Guard Station in Camiguin issued a Sea Travel Advisory temporarily suspending all voyages for watercraft within its area of responsibility. The Provincial Information Office of Misamis Oriental also confirmed a suspension of voyages in Binuangan.
Weather Update In its 8 a.m. weather advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) placed Camiguin under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1.
Other areas under Signal No. 1 include Surigao del Norte, the northern portions of Surigao del Sur (Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, Lanuza), and the northern portion of Agusan del Norte (Kitcharao, Jabonga, Santiago, Tubay, City of Cabadbaran, Remedios T. Romualdez, Magallanes).
Misamis Oriental had previously been listed under Signal No. 1 on Dec. 4.
“Wilma is forecast to move west-southwestward until tomorrow, December 6, before turning generally westward for the remaining forecast period. On the forecast track, the center of Wilma may make its initial landfall or pass close over Eastern Visayas or Dinagat Islands between this evening and tomorrow morning,” stated the Pag-asa bulletin.
The tropical depression currently holds maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center and gustiness of up to 55 km/h.
