• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
As Tropical Storm Basyang is expected to hit Visayas on Friday (Feb. 6), sea travel has been suspended in Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor while classes have been suspended in majority of the local government unis (LGUs) in Negros Island Region (NIR).
As of 8 p.m. on Thursday, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 has been raised in the southern portion of Negros Occidental, including the cities of Himamaylan, Kabankalan, and Sipalay as well as the municipalities of Candoni, Ilog, Cauayan, and Hinoba-an while the rest of Negros Occidental is under Signal No. 1.
Office of Civil Defense-NIR Regional Director Donato Sermeno III advised the LGUs to implement pre-emptive evacuations as the Department of Social Welfare and Development started to preposition family food packs for residents who will be affected by the weather disturbance.
Sermeno placed on red alert status all local disaster councils as he expects heavy rainfall across the region on Friday.
More than 150 evacuation sites – primarily public schools, covered courts, and barangay halls – have been prepared with temporary sleeping areas, clean water stations, and sanitation facilities.
“Residents in areas identified as prone to storm surges, flooding, and landslides are being encouraged to move to evacuation centers voluntarily,” Sermeno said.
The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office is also readying the deployment of its 264 personnel for search and rescue operations, its spokesperson Capt. Judesses Catalogo said.
The Philippine Coast Guard reported that more that 200 vessels have already been secured in designated safe harbors across the region, with no stranded passengers or crew members recorded as of Thursday. Ferry operators have been instructed to provide full refunds or rebooking options for affected travelers.
The Yanson Group of Bus Companies cancelled all roll-on, roll-off trips from Bacolod to Cebu, and Bacolod to Zamboanga.
Heavy rains may also trigger landslides in some areas of Kanlaon Volcano, resident volcanologist Mari-Andylene Quintia said.
The Department of Agriculture-Negros Island Region (DA-NIR) called on farmers to immediately harvest ready-to-gather crops as “Basyang” approaches.
“Farmers should prioritize harvesting crops that have reached full maturity while weather conditions remain favorable for field work,” DA-NIR Regional Director Jose Albert Barrogo said.
He advised agricultural workers to secure all farming equipment and supplies by relocating them to elevated areas along with designated animal evacuation centers that have been prepared across the region.
Following the shear line-induced rains that brought flashfloods last week, the DA-NIR reported crop damage of P2.22 million affecting about 28 hectares of farmland, and death of about 2,265 heads of various farm animals with losses pegged at P4.33 million. | GB
