Habagat floods displace 900, hit 17 villages

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – Nearly 1,000 residents in Negros Occidental were evacuated Friday due to flooding caused by the southwest monsoon, or habagat, intensified by Tropical Storm Bebinca.

Irene Bel Ploteña, head of the Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD), reported that 218 families, or 612 people, were displaced across five localities.

According to a report submitted to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), flooding affected 17 barangays, including Barangays Lag-asan, Atipuluan, Napoles, and Dulao in Bago City; Barangays Bagonawa, Batwan, Sibucao, Balwagan, and Guintorilan in San Enrique; Barangays San Juan and DSB in Pontevedra; Barangays Ayungon, Doldol, Alijis, Mabini, and Pacol in Valladolid; and Barangay 5 in Isabela.

A total of 204 families, or 557 people, are staying in evacuation centers, while 14 families, or 55 people, are outside the centers, Ploteña said.

Flooding was also reported in Pulupandan and Hinigaran, with disaster response ongoing in all affected local government units.

In Sipalay City, 300 individuals from Barangay Gil Montilla were evacuated as water levels in rivers rose due to continuous heavy rains.

Dionilo Bogtae, head of the Public Safety and Sipalay Emergency Assistance and Rescue Services (SEARS), said evacuees are temporarily housed at the city’s evacuation center.

Another evacuation center at Gil Montilla National High School is being prepared for a possible increase in evacuees.

Bogtae added that river water levels reached the orange warning level.

While no flooding occurred in the city, a landslide in Barangay 4 temporarily closed a road around 2 p.m. Clearing operations lasted about an hour, reopening the road to motorists.

Critical areas in Sipalay, including Gil Montilla, Nawang, and Cabadiangan, remain under close watch.

In Bacolod, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) chief Edward Ramirez reported no flooding so far but said monitoring continues, particularly in flood-prone areas in Barangays Sum-ag and Pahanocoy.

A tree uprooted by heavy rains damaged a car and affected an electrical post in Purok Sto. Niño, Barangay 31, but no injuries were reported.

CLASS AND WORK SUSPENSIONS

Several localities in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental suspended classes on Sept. 13 due to inclement weather.

Classes in all levels were canceled in Bago, Sipalay, Kabankalan, La Carlota, Himamaylan, Talisay, Silay, and Victorias, as well as in Binalbagan, Isabela, Hinigaran, Pulupandan, Cauayan, Hinoba-an, E.B. Magalona, Candoni, Ilog, Pontevedra, Valladolid, Moises Padilla, and Murcia.

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez suspended classes from pre-school to senior high school in both public and private schools, while colleges were given the discretion to cancel classes.

In Negros Oriental, Governor Manuel Sagarbarria issued Executive Order No. 51, suspending classes and government office work due to torrential rains and flooding.

The order was in line with Presidential Executive Order No. 66, which allows localized suspension of classes and work based on weather conditions.

Private sector work was left to the discretion of management.

As of 11 a.m. Friday, moderate to heavy rains were reported in multiple areas across Negros Oriental, with the local government advising residents to stay updated on weather reports and avoid unnecessary travel.

HEIGHTENED ALERT

The Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) in Negros Island is on heightened alert for disaster response.

Brigadier General Orlando Edralin, 303rd IBde commander, said the brigade mobilized Disaster Response Task Units (DRTUs) from the 62nd, 79th, and 94th Infantry Battalions, along with reservist teams from the 605th CDC and RESCOM.

“The Army in Negros is prepared and committed to assist during natural calamities. Strong collaboration with local government units and stakeholders is essential for everyone’s safety,” Edralin said, urging the public to remain vigilant and responsive.