‘Inday’ cancels classes in Negros Oriental

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — The provincial government of Negros Oriental has ordered the suspension of classes at all levels in public and private schools on Thursday, July 9, due to Super Typhoon “Inday,” which is expected to affect the Visayas region and the province.

Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria issued an executive order on Wednesday, encouraging educational institutions to implement alternative modes of learning, including online or modular instruction where feasible, to maintain continuity of education during the suspension.

He cited a forecast from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration that the typhoon would bring strong winds and significant rainfall over the province, increasing the risk of flooding, storm surges in coastal areas, and landslides in upland and mountainous communities.

An advisory from PAGASA also reported moderate to at times heavy to torrential rainfall over Negros Oriental on Thursday, with possible sudden flash floods in low-lying and riverine areas and landslides in sloped and mountainous barangays, particularly in already saturated or hazard-prone locations.

“Thus, it is imperative to implement precautionary measures, including but not limited to the suspension or cancellation of in-person classes, to safeguard students, teachers, and school personnel, to allow families sufficient time to secure their homes and prepare for possible evacuations, and to ease traffic and congestion on major roads that may be used for emergency response and pre-emptive evacuation operations,” the governor stated in the executive order.

School heads and officials were also enjoined to exercise sound discretion in work arrangements and office operations with due regard for the safety and well-being of their employees, and to coordinate closely with their respective local government units and local disaster risk reduction and management councils for further instructions.

The pre-emptive measure was based on the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, in coordination with local disaster risk reduction and management councils, to minimize the exposure of learners, teachers, and school personnel to the expected adverse weather conditions and reduce risks associated with travel to and from schools during the onslaught of the typhoon.

Meanwhile, some local government units in Negros Occidental also suspended classes due to the typhoon.

These are the towns of Hinobaan and Pontevedra and the cities of La Carlota, Himamaylan, and Kabankalan, which canceled classes on Wednesday, July 8.

San Carlos City also imposed a zonal suspension of classes on Wednesday in barangays Rizal, Guadalupe, Punao, Palampas, Bagonbon, Nataban, Prosperidad, Buluangan, Codcod, Quezon, San Juan, Ermita, and Sipaway Island.

The towns of Isabela and Moises Padilla also suspended classes from July 8 to 10.

The two provinces were severely hit by Typhoon Tino last year, with reported casualties.

PAGASA earlier monitored Super Typhoon Bavi outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, saying it could enter PAR and be given the local name “Inday.”

The state weather bureau also said the cyclone could enhance the southwest monsoon, or habagat, which may bring rains to parts of the country.