PREPARING FOR 'ODETTE'. Antique Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Broderick Train meets virtually with Municipal DRRMOs to discuss preparations for Typhoon Odette on Thursday (Dec. 16, 2021). Train said Antique Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao has issued a Memorandum Order for the suspension of work at the provincial government.(Photo courtesy of Antique PDRRMO) SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique - Work at the provincial capitol and 17 local government units (LGUs), as well as classes in all levels in both public and private schools in Antique, were suspended from December 16 to 17 due to Typhoon Odette. Governor Rhodora Cadiao on Thursday ordered the suspension of work at the capitol except for offices in-charge of emergencies and response, which was also adopted by other municipalities except for Sebaste town, said Antique Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (PDRRM) Officer Broderick Train during a virtual collaboration meeting with municipal DRRM officers (MDRRMOs). "The governor has issued a memorandum order Thursday morning suspending work at the provincial government except for those whose functions involve the delivery of basic and health services, preparedness/response to disasters and calamities," he said. The municipalities that ordered for suspension of work included Anini-y, Tobias Fornier, Hamtic, San Jose de Buenavista, Sibalom, San Remigio, Belison, Patnongon, Barbaza, Laua-an, Tibiao, Culasi, Pandan, Libertad, Caluya, Bugasong, and Valderrama. Antique province has 18 municipalities. As per Memorandum Order 101 signed by Cadiao, personnel of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), and the Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) are on standby in preparation for an onslaught of the typhoon. The working arrangement for national government agencies, however, will already be incumbent on the heads of their offices, Train said. He added that Cadiao has also reminded those living in the flood- and landslide-prone areas and along the coast to move to safer grounds. Meanwhile, with the cancellation of classes, classrooms have been made available should local government units need additional evacuation centers. "The school officials had also been instructed to allow the local government units (LGUs) to use their schools to be used as evacuation centers," said Evelyn Remo, chief of the Governance and Operation of the Schools Division of Antique. The southern portion of Antique has been placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TWCS) No. 3. as per Severe Weather Bulletin No. 11 issued at 2 p. m. by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA). These covered the municipalities of San Remigio, Patnongon, Belison, San Jose de Buenavista, Sibalom, Hamtic, Tobias Fornier and Anini-y. (PNA) }