ILOILO CITY, Iloilo, Philippines — No major damage was reported both in the city and province of Iloilo despite Panay island and neighboring Guimaras island being placed under storm signal number 1 due to tropical depression “Ramon” Wednesday.

Still, both city and provincial governments did not take any risks and asked that offices send their employees home by 3p.m. Wednesday.

City Vice Mayor Joe III Espinosa, currently serving as OIC mayor and Iloilo Provincial Administrator Raul Banias ordered government workers to go home early as a safety precaution to avert what happened during Typhoon Frank of June 2008 when almost 2 million people were stranded and/or displaced due to the occurrences of sudden flash-floods.

In Cebu, while northern towns in the province experienced heavy rainfall brought about by the storm Tuesday evening the strength level of which has since been lowered to tropical depression, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said the damage “seemed manageable” for the local risk reduction and management councils in those areas.

Garcia said only Medellin and Borbon towns requested for heavy equipment as portions of their roads were damaged. No other local government units (LGUs) asked for assistance per report submitted by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO). “The LGUs were able to take preemptive measures. And the fact that up to now they did not ask for any assistance show that they are capable of addressing different situations that may have arisen,” she said.

Based on an earlier forecast from the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Ramon was supposed to hit landfall in the heart of Panay Island Wednesday.

According to Jerry Bionat, executive director of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Ramon strongly weakened but northern Iloilo towns Ajuy, Balasan, Batad, Carles, Concepcion, Estancia, and San Dionisio were monitored for storm surges.

Bionat said while several coastal barangays in northern Iloilo experienced a rising of water level to a maximum of eight inches, this quickly subsided.

Engr. Jose Papa of the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council also reported no major flooding incident in Iloilo.

Also, ferry trip to and from Iloilo and Guimaras island and Bacolod City resumed Wednesday afternoon.

In Cebu meanwhile, Provincial Engineer Eulogio Pelayre said the damaged national road in Don Gregorio Antigua, Borbon was the only major effect of Ramon on Cebu. (With a story from Mars W. Mosqueda, Jr.)