• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Heavy rains triggered by southwest monsoon and enhanced by Tropical Depression Crising yesterday led to flooding in nine towns and cities in Negros Occidental.
At least 1,380 families, composed of 2,204 persons, have been affected, according to the report of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC).
Flooding in the municipalities of Ilog, Cauayan, Binalbagan, Isabela, Hinigaran and Hinobaan as well as in the cities of Himamaylan, Sipalay and Kabankalan also halted some vehicles as the national highway and other road networks became impassable.
PDRRM Officer head Irene Bel Ploteña reported waist-deep flooding in Ilog town while two- to three-foot deep floods were reported in other affected local government units.
Work in government offices were also suspended in Kabankalan, Himamaylan, and Binalbagan.
Classes will remain suspended in the towns of Hinoba-an, Binalbagan, Calatrava, Don Salvador Benedicto, La Castellana, Isabela, Hinigaran, Cauayan, Ilog, Valladolid, Moises Padilla, and Candoni.
Also on Friday, there will be no classes in the cities of Bacolod, Talisay, Silay, Sipalay City, La Carlota, Himamaylan, Kabankalan, and Bago.
In Sipalay, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported that the continuous rains have triggered landslides in barangays of Nabulao, Cayhagan and Maricalum, rendering some roads impassable.
The CDRRMO further reported that the Sipalay River has reached the orange warning level, indicating that nearby residents must prepare for a possible overflow. | GB
