FROM DRY TO WET: Heavy rains due to LPA flood portions of Western Visayas

By John Noel E. Herrera

Non-stop rains due to a low-pressure area (LPA) near Negros Island affected several provinces in Western Visayas in the past two days, after two months of searing summer heat.

As of 6 pm Thursday, authorities hoisted the red rainfall warning over Western Visayas and cautioned residents of heavy rains, floods, and landslides.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-6 noted that the LPA may develop into a Tropical Depression (TD) within the next 48 hours and may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Sunday, May 7, 2023.

“Today (May 4), until tomorrow (May 5), expect light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Palawan and Western Visayas,” OCD-6 added.

In Iloilo province, floodings were reported in the towns of Calinog, Pototan, Zarraga, Lambunao, Dingle, Dueñas, and Dumangas, while landslides were reported in three barangays of Passi City and some areas in Calinog.

Data from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) indicated that 3,910 families were affected by heavy rains, which included 1,168 in Passi City; Dumangas (1,016 families); Pototan (770); Dingle (518), and 438 families in Pototan.

Floodwaters in some areas of Iloilo also affected small structures and turned some roads into rivers, which resulted in being unpassable at that time.

OCD-6 data as of May 4, 2023, showed that 34 families in Negros Occidental and 36 barangays in Capiz were affected by floods.

OCD-6 also reported that the Mait Bridge in Dumalag, Capiz remains unpassable to all types of vehicles as of May 4, while the Ulian Bridge in Duenas, Iloilo is already passable for light to heavy vehicles.

On Thursday afternoon, heavy rains again fell on Iloilo City and in some areas in the province, which resulted in gutter-deep floodwaters along several streets in the metro.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council also issued another Orange Rainfall Warning both in Iloilo and Antique, which prompted OIC Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon to declare an “early out” for all City Hall employees.

CANCELLATION OF CLASSES

Several Local Government Units (LGUs) in the region also cancelled classes due to heavy rains.

In Iloilo City, Ganzon suspended classes from pre-school to secondary level on Thursday, May 4, while colleges and universities in the city were given the discretion to suspend classes.

“Be assured that my office, together with concerned agencies, shall closely monitor our situation in the city. Regular updates will be posted on our official social media accounts,” he added.

In Iloilo province, PDRRMO report stated that 19 LGUs declared suspension of classes – including Miag-ao, Oton, San Joaquin, Leganes, Sta. Barbara, Zarraga, Bingawan, Calinog, Lambunao, Pototan, Barotac Nuevo, Dingle, Dueñas, Dumangas, San Enrique, Passi City, Balasan, San Dionisio, and Sara.

A report from OCD-6 indicated that four towns in Capiz (Dumalag, Dao, Dumarao, Cuarter), four in Negros Occidental (Himamaylan City, San Carlos City, Pulupandan, E.B. Magalona), and two in Antique (Tobias Fornier and Anini-y) declared suspension of classes.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd)-6 clarified that these schools in said towns did not technically suspend their classes, but shifted to Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM).

DepEd-6 spokesperson Hernani Escullar Jr. explained that Department Order (DO) 37 series 2022 stated that in the event of “canceled or suspended classes, modular distance learning performance, tasks, projects, or make-up classes shall be implemented to ensure that learning competencies and objectives are met.”

Data from DepEd-6 also indicated that 1,238 or 30.58 percent out of 4,048 public schools in the region have shifted to ADM as of May 4.