Flooding suspends classes in Negros Oriental towns

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD City — Classes at all levels in the municipalities of Siaton and Zamboanguita in Negros Oriental were suspended Tuesday due to flooding, landslides, and hazardous weather conditions brought by heavy rains from a low pressure area.

Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria, through an executive order, directed educational institutions to implement alternative modes of instruction to maintain continuity of learning.

Sagarbarria, who also chairs the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, advised school heads and officials to exercise sound discretion in work arrangements and office operations, with due regard for the well-being of their employees.

The governor cited in the executive order reports of flooding and landslides in Siaton on Monday afternoon, which posed imminent danger to the lives and safety of students, teachers, and school personnel commuting to and from schools.

The order also cited a thunderstorm advisory from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration issued Monday, placing the two towns under Yellow Rainfall Warning, with flooding threatening low-lying areas and landslides threatening mountainous areas.

PAGASA said Monday that a low pressure area east of the country had a high chance of developing into a tropical depression within 24 hours, with rains expected over parts of the Visayas and nearby areas.

The executive order said the weather disturbance, which had a high chance of developing into Tropical Cyclone “Henry,” was expected to traverse the Southern Luzon-Visayas area on Tuesday, bringing cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over the Visayas, with possible flash floods and landslides.

Meanwhile, a 66-year-old man was reportedly swept away along with his nipa hut in a flash flood in Siaton on Monday.

Police Capt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson for the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, said authorities are validating whether the report was linked to the flooding.