By CESAR JOLITO III
Heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon triggered by Tropical Depression “Crising” caused widespread flooding in nine localities in Negros Occidental yesterday.
Irene Belle Ploteña, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council chief, said affected local government units (LGUs), such as the cities of Kabankalan and Himamaylan, as well as the towns of Binalbagan, Cauayan, Moises Padilla, Ilog, Hinigaran, Isabela, and Hinoba-an, experienced knee- and waist-level flooding.
More than 800 individuals or 250 families have been evacuated due to flooding, including 181 individuals in Hinoba-an, 110 in Cauayan, 20 in Binalbagan, and 427 in Isabela.
Several roads became impassable due to floodwater and uprooted trees in La Castellana town’s Barangay Cabagna-an.
In Cauayan, portions of Barangays Tilin, Mambugsay, Guiljungan, Poblacion, Masaling, Tuyom, and Inayawan recorded two to three feet of floodwater from midnight to early morning yesterday.
In Kabankalan, Barangays 1 and 3 were flooded knee-deep, while Sitios Laneta and Nasuq-ong in Mambagon reported three to five feet of water, respectively, leading to forced evacuations of affected residents.
At least 116 families, or 439 individuals, have been evacuated as of yesterday, according to data from the Kabankalan City Social Welfare and Development Office.
Meanwhile, Himamaylan and Binalbagan also reported flooding, with water rising up to three feet in Barangay Payao.
In Moises Padilla, Barangay 7 households were submerged under three feet of water by 9:00 a.m.
In Ilog, a waist-level flood overflowed the bridge in Barangay Balicotoc and became impassable as of yesterday, cutting off access to Candoni town.
In Barangay Dancalan, portions of the Kabankalan-Sipalay Road were submerged under two to three feet of floodwater.
Meanwhile, in La Castellana, an uprooted tree blocked the national highway leading to Barangay Cabagna-an, making it inaccessible to motorists.
In Hinoba-an, residents in Pook, Asia, Culipapa, and Bulwagan experienced three feet of floodwater.
Evacuation efforts were conducted immediately.
Ploteña said 27 LGUs declared the suspension of classes at all levels, both public and private schools, yesterday due to inclement weather.
The localities that suspended classes were the cities of Kabankalan, Bago, Talisay, Silay, Himamaylan, Sipalay, La Carlota, and Victorias, as well as the towns of Calatrava, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, E.B. Magalona, Valladolid, Ilog, San Enrique, Binalbagan, Isabela, La Castellana, Hinigaran, Cauayan, Hinoba-an, Padilla, Don Salvador Benedicto, Manapla, Candoni, Moises Padilla, and Murcia.
However, private schools with asynchronous and online classes may continue at the discretion of the school administration.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Emergency Operations Center was on blue alert status effective yesterday in anticipation of heavy rainfall due to “Crising.”
While Negros Occidental is not directly on “Crising’s” path, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration anticipates significant rainfall until Friday, July 18./CJ, WDJ