‘Opong’ lashes Western Visayas, Negros Occidental on high alert

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor, Mariela Angella Oladive, and Dolly Yasa

Several areas in Western Visayas were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 on Thursday, Sept. 25, as Severe Tropical Storm Opong moved closer to the region, prompting class suspensions and halting sea travel.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised Signal No. 1 over northern and central Iloilo, as well as the provinces of Capiz, Aklan, and the northern part of Antique.

PAGASA also warned that Samar, Leyte, central Cebu, Negros, Panay, and Occidental Mindoro may experience flash floods within 24 to 36 hours.

The Philippine Coast Guard suspended sea travel in Iloilo’s northern coastal towns of Carles, Estancia, Concepcion, Ajuy, and Banate.

Montenegro Shipping Lines canceled its Iloilo–Bacolod fast craft trips due to rough sea conditions.

In Aklan, the PCG also suspended trips from Caticlan Port to Batangas City, Roxas, and Bulalacao in Mindoro, and from Tabon Port to Santa Fe and San Jose in Romblon.

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Western Visayas (RDRRMC 6) raised its alert status from blue to red.

The Department of Education reported that 1,230 schools across the region shifted to alternative delivery modes, affecting about 420,873 students.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Region 6 said it has PHP 2.7 million in standby funds and PHP 114 million worth of food and non-food relief items.

A total of 111,123 family food packs have been prepositioned across the region, including 34,455 in Oton, 30,830 in Iloilo, 17,885 in Antique, and 13,093 in Capiz.

In Iloilo City, Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu said the city’s emergency operations center remains on blue alert, identifying 72 barangays as flood-prone.

RDRRMC 6 also reported on Sept. 24 that 481 families or 1,719 individuals were affected by the combined effects of the southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones Mirasol and Nando.

Among those affected, 66 families or 199 persons were sheltered inside evacuation centers, while 194 families or 795 persons received aid outside centers.

Iloilo province was the most impacted with 24 affected barangays, followed by Antique with 10 and Capiz with one.

Fourteen houses were damaged—11 in Iloilo, one in Capiz, and two in Antique.

The Department of Agriculture reported that 165 farmers and fisherfolk sustained production losses worth PHP 860,951 due to heavy rains and flooding.

DepEd Region 6 said 94 schools in Antique, 372 in Capiz, 66 in Iloilo City, and 698 in Iloilo province suspended face-to-face classes.

The class suspensions, based on recommendations from local disaster risk reduction and management offices, affected more than 420,000 students.

DSWD Field Office 6 placed its quick response teams on high alert as TCWS No. 1 was raised in several provinces in the region.

Of the prepositioned food packs, 8,362 are in Aklan, 6,498 in Guimaras, 17,885 in Antique, 13,093 in Capiz, and 30,830 in Iloilo.

“This effort is coordinated through the regional, provincial, and municipal quick response teams in partnership with the RDRRMC Logistic Cluster member agencies,” DSWD said.

PAGASA warned that gale-force winds may affect coastal and upland areas in the coming days as Opong, enhanced by the southwest monsoon, continues to impact the region.

NEGROS OCC. ON HIGH ALERT

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Negros Occidental raised its alert status as Typhoon Opong intensified the southwest monsoon, bringing heavy rains and possible hazards.

PDRRMO head Irene Bel Ploteña said all response teams are on standby for deployment across the province.

The Emergency Operations Center of the RDRRMC in the Negros Island Region declared a red alert, triggering heightened readiness protocols.

Local government units were also advised to coordinate with PDRRMO for support on flooding, landslides, and other emergencies.

PDRRMO deployed water assets and mobilized personnel from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office and the Provincial Health Office.

Ploteña said decisions to suspend classes remain under the authority of LGUs.

As of Sept. 24, seven LGUs had suspended classes—Hinigaran, Binalbagan, Sipalay, Cadiz, Hinoba-an, Manapla, Isabela, and E.B. Magalona.

By Sept. 25, E.B. Magalona, Sipalay City, and Hinoba-an also suspended work in government offices.

PAGASA placed parts of Negros Occidental under TCWS No. 1, which indicates strong winds of 39–61 km/h and minor threats to life and property.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed national agencies and LGUs to activate Operation L!STO protocols for preemptive evacuations and inter-agency coordination.

As of Sept. 24, Opong carried maximum sustained winds of 130 km/h, with forecasts showing further impacts on Negros Occidental and other areas due to the storm’s interaction with the southwest monsoon.