THE heavy rains brought about by the enhanced southwest monsoon has forced some local government officials in Negros Occidental to suspend classes since Monday, August 5.
Sea travel in the province also remained affected due to the gale warning.
Bacolod City, Talisay City, E.B. Magalona, and Murcia have all declared a suspension of classes Tuesday afternoon, August 6, while Bago City, Valladolid and Hinigaran have also suspended classes Monday, August 5.
In San Carlos City, both the City Government and the local Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) station have decided to suspend sea trips bound for Sipaway Island due to strong waves and inclement weather conditions.
Roll-on/Roll-off ferries bound for Toledo in Cebu, meanwhile, remain normal.
The City Government has requested all stranded passengers to proceed to the Barangay Hall of Barangat 6 in San Carlos in order to receive assistance.
Meanwhile, ferry services between Bacolod and Iloilo remain limited with vessels below the 250 gross tonnage barred from leaving.
Two vessels coming from OceanJet Fast Ferries and Weesam Express were allowed to set sail, although OceanJet again released a notice to its passengers in the afternoon that it has cancelled their trips due to poor sea conditions.
There are no noted stranded passengers in Bacolod City.
Meanwhile, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said Tuesday, August 6, that the alert status on the capsized boats in Iloilo-Guimaras strait remains and that all local government units have already been disseminated of the information of any possible survivors that may come ashore in their respective areas.
Lacson also clarified that the decision to suspend classes lies on the local chief executives and the officials if the Department of Education.