Several local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental suspended classes on Wednesday, July 8, as Super Typhoon Inday intensified the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat), raising the threat of heavy rains and flooding across the province despite the cyclone not being expected to make landfall in the Philippines.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Inday entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) early Wednesday, prompting the hoisting of Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 over Batanes, Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands, and portions of Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, Aurora, and Catanduanes.
As of 5 am, the super typhoon was estimated at 1,405 kilometers east of Northern Luzon, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 230 kilometers per hour.
While the cyclone is forecast to track northwestward over the Philippine Sea before exiting the PAR by Saturday, July 11, PAGASA warned that it will enhance the southwest monsoon, bringing occasional to heavy rains, strong winds, and possible flooding and rain-induced landslides over several parts of the country, including Western Visayas.
As a precaution, class suspensions at all levels were declared in Himamaylan City, Kabankalan City, La Carlota City, the municipalities of La Castellana (July 9-10), Hinoba-an, Hinigaran, and Pontevedra, and at STI West Negros University in Bacolod City.
The municipalities of Isabela and Moises Padilla suspended classes from July 8 to 10, while San Carlos City suspended classes in Barangays Rizal, Guadalupe, Punao, Palampas, Bagonbon, Nataban, Prosperidad, Buluangan, Codcod, Quezon, San Juan, and Ermita.
The list is current as of 7:30 am on Wednesday and will be updated as more local government units announce class suspensions.*
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.