‘Inday’ rains displace 420 families in Negros Occidental

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Around 420 families, or 1,272 people, evacuated from seven barangays in four local government units in Negros Occidental due to flooding caused by heavy rains on Thursday amid the threat of Super Typhoon Inday.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said Barangay Robles in La Castellana recorded the highest number of displaced residents with 300 families.

Barangay Bulad in Isabela recorded 64 displaced families, while Barangays Antipolo, San Isidro, and DSB in Pontevedra had 42.

Barangays Odiong and 3 Poblacion recorded 14 displaced families.

Flooding had been reported since Wednesday in Barangays Antipolo, DSB, Cambarus, and San Isidro in Pontevedra; Barangays Robles and Maytubig in Isabela; and affected areas in La Castellana and Moises Padilla.

The Isabela Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said Barangay Bulad was also hit by Typhoon Tino last year.

Floodwaters continued to rise after heavy rains on Thursday afternoon, affecting Barangay Maytubig.

Classes were also suspended in Calatrava, Don Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City, Murcia, Bago City, La Carlota City, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, Valladolid, Binalbagan, Himamaylan City, Hinigaran, Isabela, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Candoni, Cauayan, Hinoba-an, Ilog, Kabankalan City, and Sipalay City.

The Philippine Coast Guard also issued an advisory temporarily suspending all island-hopping and seawater-related activities in southern Negros Occidental.

Meanwhile, the provincial government of Negros Oriental extended the suspension of in-person classes to Friday, July 10, due to the threat of the typhoon.

Negros Oriental Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria cited the latest bulletins and advisories of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, which said the typhoon continued to affect the Visayas, including Negros Oriental, with sustained rains and strong winds.

PAGASA also warned that rainfall could persist through Friday, maintaining the risk of flooding in low-lying and riverine areas and landslides in mountainous and upland barangays.

Sagarbarria said in an executive order that extending the suspension of in-person classes was necessary to protect students, teachers, and school personnel from unsafe travel and potentially hazardous conditions caused by the continued bad weather.

In Bacolod City, Mayor Greg Gasataya also canceled classes Friday in line with the weather forecast for Negros Occidental, which indicated strong winds and heavy rainfall.

Meanwhile, a tornado hit Barangays Pilar and Tagda in Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, on Thursday, partially damaging 20 houses.

Of the total, 12 houses were damaged in coastal Barangay Tagda, while eight were damaged in Barangay Pilar.

The affected houses had damaged roofs, according to the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

No injuries were reported.

The MDRRMO said no evacuation was reported because residents immediately repaired their damaged homes.

Super Typhoon Inday, internationally known as Bavi, entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday, July 8, and prompted weather advisories and class suspensions in several areas.

The Philippines is hit by an average of about 20 tropical cyclones each year, with heavy rains often triggering flooding and landslides in vulnerable communities.