By CESAR JOLITO III
Nearly 19,000 residents across Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, have been evacuated as Tropical Depression “Verbena” brought heavy rains, widespread flooding and dangerous river swelling yesterday.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reported that 4,230 families or 13,831 individuals fled their homes across the province.
PDRRMO chief Irene Bel Ploteña said evacuees included both those who were preemptively evacuated ahead of “Verbena’s” expected landfall and those forced to leave due to rapidly rising floodwaters.
The number of residents evacuated per locality includes:
* San Carlos City — 269 families (860 individuals)
* Sagay City — 98 families (169 individuals)
* E.B. Magalona — 79 families (225 individuals)
* Talisay City — 386 families (1,341 individuals)
* La Carlota City — 80 families (243 individuals)
* Pontevedra — 329 families (899 individuals)
* San Enrique — 58 families (244 individuals)
The 5th District, previously hit hard by Typhoon “Tino” on November 4, again recorded the highest number of evacuees:
* Himamaylan City — 12 families (41 individuals)
* Hinigaran — 590 families (1,863 individuals)
* Isabela — 1,447 families (4,764 individuals)
* La Castellana — 131 families (527 individuals)
* Moises Padilla — 709 families (2,514 individuals)
In the 6th District, only Cauayan reported evacuations with 42 families (141 individuals).
Class suspensions
Across Negros Occidental, local government units continue to implement class suspensions in response to the impacts of “Verbena.”
The 1st District — Calatrava, Escalante City, Don Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City, and Toboso — sustained light to heavy rains and strong winds, prompting all levels of education to suspend classes, with some areas also experiencing power interruptions.
In the 2nd District (Cadiz City, Sagay City and Manapla), all levels likewise suspended classes due to moderate to strong winds and heavy rainfall.
Public schools in the 3rd District (E.B. Magalona, Murcia, Silay City, Talisay City, and Victorias City) also halted classes.
The 4th District experienced flooding in several areas, including Bago City, Pontevedra and Valladolid, along with moderate to heavy rainfall that forced schools to cancel classes across all levels.
Power interruptions were also reported in some barangays.
In the 5th District, where continuous heavy rains persisted, Binalbagan, Himamaylan City, Hinigaran, Isabela, La Castellana, and Moises Padilla suspended classes, with Himamaylan also enacting a work suspension due to storm impacts.
In the 6th District — Candoni, Cauayan, Hinoba-an, Ilog, Kabankalan City, and Sipalay City — all levels likewise suspended classes as strong winds and varying rain intensities were felt across southern Negros Occidental.
5,000 Bacolod residents evacuated
The Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office confirmed that 5,000 residents were evacuated as strong rains inundated multiple barangays.
Large portions of the city experienced knee- to waist-deep flooding, forcing families from Barangays 2, 3, 10, 14, 18, 27, 35, 36, Taculing, Bata, Banago, Mansilingan, Pahanocoy, Sum-ag, Cabug, Montevista, Alijis, and Singcang-Airport to move to safer ground.
Flooding hit at least 14 critical areas, rendering several roads impassable to motorcycles, tricycles and even light vehicles.
A concrete wall collapsed in Barangay 27 due to softened soil from continuous rainfall.
Meanwhile, 370 passengers were stranded at Bredco Port after sea travel was suspended due to hazardous sea conditions brought by the tropical depression.
Mayor Greg Gasataya urged residents to remain vigilant and avoid riverbanks, coastal zones and low-lying areas.
“Your safety is our priority. Please coordinate with your barangay officials and stay alert for further advisories,” Gasataya said./CJ, WDJ