PREEMPTIVE EVAC URGED: ‘Basyang’ puts 1.6K barangays under flood, landslide threats

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Office of Civil Defense-Western Visayas (OCD-6) ordered local disaster risk reduction and management councils in the region to carry out preemptive evacuations in high-risk areas as Tropical Depression Basyang threatens to bring heavy rain and strong winds.

OCD-6 Director Raul Fernandez, who also chairs the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), said the directive covers communities prone to flooding, landslides and storm surges to protect residents, particularly those in vulnerable areas.

On Friday, Feb. 6, the RDRRMC Operations Center was placed on red alert to intensify coordination, monitoring and preparedness among member agencies and local governments.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau reported that 1,654 barangays across 55 towns in the region are susceptible to rain-induced landslides and flooding, underscoring the need for heightened preparedness and early evacuation measures.

On Friday afternoon, PAGASA placed Guimaras under a red heavy rainfall warning, indicating serious flooding in low-lying areas and possible landslides in mountainous zones.

A yellow rainfall warning was raised over Iloilo, Capiz and Aklan, where flooding and landslides remain possible.

PAGASA reported that Basyang made landfall over Bohol and weakened into a tropical depression as of Friday afternoon.

In its 2 p.m. bulletin, the weather bureau said the cyclone’s center was near Bilar, Bohol.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 remained in effect over Guimaras, Iloilo, Capiz, Antique, Aklan and Negros Occidental.

PAGASA forecast that Basyang will move over the coastal waters of Anini-y, Antique, by about 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, as a low-pressure area after passing near Binalbagan, Negros Occidental.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, citing its Predictive Analysis for Humanitarian Response, said about 509 families, or 2,543 individuals, may be affected by Basyang.

DSWD-6 said it has PHP 143.5 million worth of available relief resources, including PHP 3 million in standby funds, 132,635 family food packs, 23,419 ready-to-eat food (RTEF) boxes, and more than PHP 32 million worth of nonfood items prepositioned across strategic sites in the region.

The agency said it has distributed RTEF boxes to stranded passengers, including 63 at Caticlan Port, 53 at Fort San Pedro in Iloilo City, and 27 at Dumangas Port.

On Thursday, 66 families, or 94 individuals, were reported stranded at the ports of Iloilo City and Dumangas due to weather-related disruptions.

The Coast Guard said all sea trips within Iloilo province remained suspended as of late Friday afternoon.

However, motorboats and passenger vessels plying the Iloilo-Guimaras route may operate as long as they carry no more than 50 percent of their authorized passenger capacity.