TD ‘Agaton’ pummels WV with heavy rains

By Sean Rafio, Glazyl Y. Masculino, and Felipe V. Celino

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned of heavy rains over Western Visayas as Tropical Depression “Agaton” hovers over the Visayas area.

In its 6 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Agaton maintained its strength after making landfall in Basey, Samar. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and 60 kph gusts.

Agaton was “almost stationary,” the weather bureau added.

According to the latest advisory, the following rivers and its tributaries in Western Visayas may be affected by moderate to heavy rains:

– Antique: Sibalom, Ipayo, Cagaranan, Palawan, Cairauan, Dalanas, and Tibiao;

– Capiz: Panay, Mambusao, Panay Malinao, Alingon, and Balantian;

– Guimaras: all rivers and its tributaries;

– Aklan: Ibajay, Aklan, and Jalo;

– Negros Occidental: Malogo, Sicaba, Grande, Himogaan, Danao, Upper Tabanan, Sipalay, and Lower Ilog;

– Iloilo: Pinantan, Barotac, Akalaygan, Jalaud, Jalano, Jagdong, Jalaur, Lamunan, Jaro-Aganan, Sibalom, and Guimbal.

“People living near the mountain slopes and in the low-lying areas of the above-mentioned cities and the local disaster risk reduction and management councils concerned are advised to be on alert for possible flash floods,” PAGASA said.

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) maintained the “Charlie protocol” – the highest emergency preparedness and response protocol (EPR).

About 34 flooded areas in Capiz have been reported during the onslaught of Agaton, according to the Office of Civil Defence (OCD) Region 6. Meanwhile, flooding and landslides have been reported to OCD-6 but have yet to be validated.

ILOILO CITY, PROVINCE

Rains inundated parts of Iloilo City on Monday.

The Iloilo City Government said moderate rains flooded the following areas as of 11 a.m., Monday:

City Proper

– Malipayon- Zone 3 (water level: ankle area)

– Tanza Timawa 2- Area 5

– Arsenal Aduana- Zone 4 (Aduana Street)

Lapuz

– Bo. Obrero- Zone 1 front of Petron Depot (water level: ankle area)

– Sinikway – Blk. 7, ext. 8, 9, 10, and 11 (water level: ankle area)

Mandurriao

– PHHC Block 17, Block 28, Phase 1

Jaro

– Dungon B: Zone 4

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration on Sunday night warned of the possibility of floods in various areas in Western Visayas.

The City Hall later suspended all modes of classes at all levels and government work.

In Executive Order 40, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas declared the suspension of all in-person and online classes in both private and public schools and work in the Iloilo City Hall effective immediately until April 12.

Meanwhile, establishments were given the discretion to determine work arrangements for their employees.

Meanwhile, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines said auto-tripping of its 50 megavolt-ampere Transformer No. 2 at Sta. Barbara Substation past 12 p.m. Monday caused power supply interruption in the Baldoza/Lapaz Substation of MORE Electric and Power Corp. in Iloilo City.

The transformer was initially restored at 3:52 p.m. but tripped again at 4:32 p.m. NGCP was still investigating the cause as of this writing.

In Iloilo province, residents were trapped as floodwaters engulf several houses in Ajuy, Iloilo.

A Facebook post by Taryna Cabangal Oquias on Monday showed a video call with her mother, who was stranded at a government village in Barangay Tipacla as the waters raged.

“Kaluluoy sila basa na tanan nga gamit. Ginakurog na sila. Ang pamilya ko please kag iban nga pamuluyo. Taas2 na ang tubig. Buligi nyo sila. Kabay pa indi na magab ihan. Dilikado sitwasyon nila sbung. Palihog buligi nyo sila. Bulig bulig please,” Taryna wrote in the caption.

She also told Daily Guardian that trucks could not evacuate her mom due to rising floodwaters as of posting time.

In parts of Iloilo, authorities waded through chest-high floods to move residents to safer grounds as torrential rains from tropical depression Agaton lashed the Visayas.

Photos shared by Lemery PNP on Monday showed rescuers evacuating residents from flooding.

CAPIZ

Private and public offices and classes at all levels in Capiz were suspended Monday because of the bad weather.

In an advisory, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said that Mayors Arnold Perez of Pilar and Raymond Malapajo of Maayon declared the suspension of works and classes.

The towns of Panay, Pontevedra, Sigma, Dao and Dumarao also made the same declaration.

Meanwhile, the bridge in barangay Tuburan, Maayon, Capiz that connects Sitio Pudian and barangays Bongbongan, Maalan and Guinbi-alan collapsed due to strong water current.

The PDRRMO has yet to confirm how many persons were evacuated at the height of the storm.

PDRRMO chief Judy Grace Pelaez said she is waiting for reports from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (MDRRMO) including Roxas City.

Reports indicated that one person went missing in Brgy. Dulangan Pilar, Capiz.

BACOLOD, NEGROS OCC.

Meanwhile, more than 500 residents here and in Negros Occidental were evacuated Monday due to flooding and landslide caused by Tropical Depression “Agaton.”

Nine families or 24 individuals at Purok San Jose and Roadside in Barangay Alijis here were evacuated due to a reported landslide.

According to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), they were actively monitoring the situation here since the weekend for possible flooding, particularly in the areas of Barangays 39, Bata, Mandalagan, and Banago.

Meanwhile, 71 households or 218 individuals were evacuated in Cadiz City, while preemptive evacuation was conducted in E.B. Magalona town, affecting 12 families or 21 individuals from Barangays San Jose, Tanza, and Pasil, based on the data provided by Dr. Zephard Caelian, head of Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD).

In Victorias City, the Malihao river rose to 13 feet 11 inches, exceeding its spilling level of 12 feet, affecting Barangays Salvacion, Bandong, Mallorca, Sool, and Pusan yesterday.

But no record was provided yet on the affected residents during the preemptive evacuation.

In Talisay City, 45 households from Barangays Zone 8, 11, and 12 were also evacuated, while water levels of Puncian and Bago rivers in Murcia town swelled.

In Silay City, 79 families or 303 individuals were also evacuated from five barangays, based on the data provided by Mayor Mark Golez.

Five residents were evacuated in Barangay II, six in Barangay VI-Hawaiian, 33 in Barangay Mambulac, 18 in Barangay Lantad, and 12 in Barangay Rizal.

Golez said that no houses were damaged in the city, as of 5 p.m.

Meanwhile, six local government units (LGUs) in the province ordered the suspension of classes and work in government offices yesterday as the province was placed under Red Alert Status.

The LGUs of E.B. Magalona town, Victorias City, Cadiz City, and Silay City ordered the suspension of work in government offices and classes in all levels in public and private school yesterday, while Talisay City suspended the classes in pre-elementary, elementary, and secondary schools, and Don Salvador Benedicto town ordered only the suspension of classes in all levels.

WIND SIGNALS

PAGASA said the following areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 will experience strong winds:

– Southern portion of Masbate (Dimasalang, Palanas, Cataingan, Pio V. Corpuz, Esperanza,

– Placer, Cawayan)

– Eastern Samar

– Samar

– Northern Samar

– Biliran

– Leyte

– Southern Leyte

– Northeastern portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, San Remigio, Medellin, City of Bogo, Tabogon, Borbon, Sogod, Catmon, Carmen, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan) including Camotes Island

– Eastern portion of Bohol (Getafe, Talibon, Bien Unido, Trinidad, Ubay, San Miguel, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Mabini)

– Surigao del Norte

– Dinagat Islands

According to PAGASA, moderate to heavy with at times intense rains were forecast over Sorsogon, Masbate, Romblon, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Northern and central portions of Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Antique, Guimaras, and Northern and central portions of Negros provinces.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains will also be experienced Monday night over Dinagat Islands, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Quezon, and the rest of Bicol region and Visayas.

Agaton is expected to remain a tropical depression as it moves slowly before emerging over the Philippine Sea by Tuesday evening, PAGASA said.

It is expected to weaken as it interacts with a stronger cyclone with international name of Malakas. The cyclone will be named Basyang once it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility by early Tuesday morning.

PAGASA urged residents and local governments units in flood and landslide-prone areas to take necessary precautions.