More than 1,200 residents had been displaced by flooding as of Friday, July 10, while classes and sea travel were suspended across parts of the Negros Island Region (NIR) as the southwest monsoon (habagat), enhanced by Typhoon Inday (Bavi), continued to bring heavy rains.
Data from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) showed that 429 families, or 1,272 individuals, were affected by flooding in four local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental.
La Castellana recorded the highest number of affected residents with 930 individuals, followed by Isabela with 191, Pontevedra with 105, and Moises Padilla with 46.
Floodwaters, estimated at about a foot deep, inundated several communities, including Barangays Antipolo, Don Salvador Benedicto, Cambarus, and San Isidro in Pontevedra; Barangays Robles and Maytubig in Isabela; Barangay Robles in La Castellana; and Barangays Odiong and Poblacion 3 in Moises Padilla.
The heavy rains are expected to persist even as Typhoon Inday, which has weakened from a super typhoon, moves away from the country.
In its 5 am bulletin on Friday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the typhoon was forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Saturday morning or afternoon, but would continue to enhance the southwest monsoon, bringing moderate to heavy rains over Western Visayas, including the Negros Island Region, and raising the threat of flooding and rain-induced landslides.
As rains continued to batter the region, LGUs in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental suspended face-to-face classes as a precaution for students, teachers, and school personnel.
In Negros Occidental, classes at all levels in both public and private schools were suspended in Calatrava, Don Salvador Benedicto, E.B. Magalona, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, Valladolid, Isabela, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Hinigaran, Binalbagan, Candoni, Cauayan, Murcia, Hinoba-an, San Carlos City, Silay City, Talisay City, Bago City, La Carlota City, and the highly urbanized Bacolod City.
In Negros Oriental, Governor Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria extended the suspension of face-to-face classes since July 9, due to persistent rainfall affecting the province.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard–Coast Guard Station Southern Negros Occidental suspended island-hopping tours and all seawater-related activities in southern Negros due to rough sea conditions brought about by the enhanced southwest monsoon.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.