By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
More than a thousand families in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City were affected by flashfloods due to the non-stop rains caused by the southwest monsoon and enhanced by Typhoon “Goring.”
Chiqui Gonzales, head of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), said yesterday a total of 1,135 families or 3,838 residents across the province have been affected by torrential rains since Sunday night, August 27.
At least 288 residents, mostly from Bago City, are currently staying in evacuation centers.
Gonzales said they have a standby supply of 800 food packs for the affected residents.
The PSWDO is currently gathering more relief supplies in case the number of evacuees grows.
Monsoon rains have affected capital Bacolod City, the municipalities of Murcia, Don Salvador Benedicto, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, Valladolid, and San Enrique, and Bago City.
In Bacolod, the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) reported that they evacuated residents from the villages of Banago, Cabug, Felisa, Handumanan, Mandalagan, Mansilingan, Pahanocoy, Punta Taytay, Singcang-Airport, Sum-ag, Tangub, and 40 due to flashfloods caused by monsoon rains.
Flood waters went as high as 10 feet in Sum-ag.
At least 1,126 individuals or 325 families are being sheltered in Sum-ag Elementary School, while 293 residents in Pahanocoy were evacuated to Mariano G. Medalla Elementary School.
In Handumanan, 115 individuals or 27 families were brought to a gymnasium in the village.
A monitoring from the CDRRMO at around 9:00 a.m. yesterday showed at least eight waterways were at critical level, while two were “overflowing,” and one was “moderate.”
Due to the inclement weather conditions, acting city mayor El Cid Familiaran ordered a suspension of classes at all levels in the city effective today, August 29.
Familiaran also encouraged private businesses and establishments in the city to also temporarily suspend work to allow their employees to attend to the needs of their families who may be affected by the bad weather.
However, the Commission on Elections in Bacolod was allowed to continue accepting certificates of candidacy for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections yesterday, the first day of filing.
Meanwhile, the Bago City Hospital was forced to temporarily halt accepting patients, both for admission and outpatient, as well as emergency cases after floodwaters entered the first floor of the building.
Several residents were also forced to evacuate due to rising flood waters.
Bago Mayor Nicholas Yulo has also issued a suspension of work at the city hall and classes at all levels.
Yulo said, in the interest of public service, a skeletal workforce will be on duty.
In Don Salvador Benedicto, a portion of the Angsoan Bridge in Barangay Pandanon collapsed.
The authorities also reported that one of the solar lights on the bridge had been washed away due to heavy rains.
A landslide was also reported on the main highway which connects the town with San Carlos City and Bacolod, but they were able to immediately clear the debris.
Mayor Laurence Marxlen dela Cruz also issued an order suspending classes in the municipality.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), Typhoon “Goring” was last spotted 245 kilometers east northeast of Aurora province’s Casiguran town.
“Goring” is moving north-northeastward and has maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts at 190 kph.
Negros Occidental is not in the path of “Goring,” but the enhanced southwest monsoon is expected to bring rains in the province.
The typhoon is expected to traverse Batanes and the southern tip of Taiwan on Wednesday, August 30.
Pagasa warns the southwest monsoon, enhanced by the storm, will bring rains over the western portions of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Visayas, including Negros Occidental, for the next three days.
Class, work suspension
The following are local government units (LGUs) that declared class suspension in public and private schools at all levels today due to heavy rains caused by Typhoon “Goring:” Bacolod City, E.B. Magalona, Moises Padilla, Isabela, La Carlota City, Bago City, Murcia, Don Salvador Benedicto, Hinigaran, Pulupandan, Cauayan, Pontevedra, San Enrique, Victorias City, Talisay City, Silay City, Manapla, Escalante City, Calatrava, La Castellana, Binalbagan, Himamaylan City, Kabankalan City, Hinoba-an, Ilog, and Sagay City.
Bacolod City, Moises Padilla, E.B. Magalona, La Carlota City, Bago City, and Murcia LGUs declared work suspension in local government offices./DGB, WDJ