Over 8,000 families flee floods in Negros Occidental

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — A total of 8,132 families, or 31,838 individuals, were evacuated on Friday due to flooding caused by Tropical Cyclone Opong.

Binalbagan town recorded the highest number of evacuees with 5,432 families or 22,909 persons from Barangays Payao, Bagroy, Marina, San Jose, Sto. Rosario, San Vicente, San Teodoro, Paglaum, Enclaro, San Pedro, Canmoros, and Progreso.

Another 833 families or 3,055 individuals were displaced from Barangays Damgo, San Jose, Tabigue, Latasan, Alicante, and Sto. Niño.

An additional 1,263 families or 3,815 residents were evacuated from Barangays IV, Aranda, Cambugsa, III, Tagda, Palayog, Narauis, Bato, Nanunga, and Pilar.

Other displaced residents included 10 families or 42 individuals from Barangays Alim, Culipapa, Bacuyangan, and Damutan in Hinoba-an; 26 families or 86 persons from Barangays Rizal, Patag, and Mambulac in Silay City; and 142 families or 362 persons from Barangays San Juan, Antipolo, San Isidro, and Don Salvador Benedicto.

In Isabela town, 134 families or 530 persons were affected in Barangays 5, Maytubig, Rumirang, and Bulad.

Talisay City reported 156 displaced families or 515 individuals from Barangay Zones 3, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 12-A, 14, 14-A, and 14-B.

Six families or 31 persons were evacuated from Barangays Malingin and Atipuluhan in Bago City.

In La Castellana, 83 families or 314 individuals were displaced in Barangays Biak na Bato and Sag-ang.

Manapla town reported five families or 22 persons displaced in Barangay 1-A.

La Carlota City recorded 42 families or 157 individuals affected in Barangays RSB and San Miguel.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) also reported infrastructure damage due to heavy rains, including an eroded road in Bonifacio Extension, a damaged spillway in Hacienda Jamandre, and a bridge overflow at Biak na Bato Tamburong Bridge in La Castellana, all of which are now passable.

Flooding was monitored in 10 barangays in Talisay City; eight in Bago City; three in Isabela town; three in Silay City; five in Pontevedra; nine in Hinigaran; three in Moises Padilla; one in Cadiz City; two in Binalbagan; four in E.B. Magalona; and five in Valladolid.

A minor landslide also occurred in San Francisco Village in Barangay Nabulao, Sipalay City, but the affected area is now passable.

In Barangay Daga, Cadiz City, a boat capsized, while one house was partially damaged in Barangay Mambulac, Silay City, and two more in Barangay Damgo, E.B. Magalona.

Classes at all levels have been suspended, and work in some local government offices has also been canceled.

The PDRRMC has raised its alert status to red.

In Bacolod City, local officials reported 1,298 evacuees housed across five evacuation centers from Barangays 10, Banago, Cabug, Pahanocoy, and Taculing.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Northern Negros Occidental reported that 298 passengers and drivers were stranded at various seaports as of Friday afternoon.

Sea travel was suspended in northern Negros Occidental and Bacolod City for safety after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 in several areas.

As of 4 p.m., the Coast Guard Station in Northern Negros Occidental reported 174 rolling cargoes, 14 vessels, and four sheltering vessels stranded.

The Coast Guard District Southern Visayas (CGDSV), through its stations and substations, continues to assist stranded passengers across affected ports.

Food packs and bottled water were distributed at Bredco Port in Bacolod City in coordination with the 1308th Coast Guard Auxiliary Squadron, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Bredco port management.

The Coast Guard also partnered with the Philippine Red Cross to set up a First Aid Station at Bredco Port to provide immediate medical assistance and monitor passenger wellness.

Commodore Christopher Auro, CGDSV commander, emphasized the importance of vigilance, monitoring official weather advisories, and ensuring the readiness of coastal communities.