94,926 Iloilo students stuck home as Habagat floods hit
By Mariela Angella Oladive
By Mariela Angella Oladive
Face-to-face classes were suspended in 256 public schools across 10 municipalities in Iloilo province Monday, July 13, affecting 94,926 learners as heavy rains from the enhanced southwest monsoon (Habagat), intensified by Tropical Cyclone Inday, continued to batter parts of Western Visayas.
A summary report from the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6 showed that the suspension was implemented only in the Schools Division Office (SDO) of Iloilo.
No suspension of in-person classes was reported in the divisions of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo City, Passi City, and Roxas City.
The report also showed that four public schools in Antique and Iloilo were used as temporary evacuation centers for families displaced by the inclement weather.
These were Lagdo Elementary School in Barangay Sibalo Norte, San Remigio, Antique; Banusing-Serdeña Elementary School in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique; Tubeza-Marcaliñas Elementary School in Hamtic, Antique; and Napnapan Elementary School in Tigbauan, Iloilo.
DepEd-6 Information Officer Hernani Escullar Jr. said evacuees who had temporarily stayed in the schools in Antique had already returned to their homes.
The class suspension came as persistent rains from the enhanced Habagat triggered flooding, landslides, and other weather-related incidents across parts of the region.
Meanwhile, the Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) reported weather-related incidents in 16 municipalities as of 11 p.m. on July 12, affecting 157 barangays.
The incidents included 17 flooding events and five rain-induced landslides, as well as roadside erosion, creek overflows, a sea mishap, stranded individuals, damaged houses, and the collapse of two hanging bridges — one in Barangay Camando, Leon, and another in Barangay Bagumbayan, Tigbauan.
The data showed that 2,025 families, or 6,739 individuals, from 139 barangays were affected by the inclement weather.
12 houses sustained damage, including three that were totally destroyed and nine that were partially damaged.
As of 10 p.m. on July 12, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office downgraded the status of its Emergency Operations Center from Blue Alert to White Alert following the exit of Tropical Cyclone Inday from the Philippine Area of Responsibility and the gradual improvement in weather conditions.
However, authorities said continuous monitoring of rivers, flood-prone communities, and landslide-prone areas remains in place.
The report also showed that two municipalities remained under Red Alert status, while 28 local disaster risk reduction and management offices continued to maintain Blue Alert status.
Two road sections also remained impassable, although no local government unit had declared a suspension of work.
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