HEAVY rain brought by a low-pressure region flooded some portions of the Iloilo province, including Iloilo City, on Thursday, May 4, 2023.

Western Visayas has been placed under general flood advisory, according to an advisory from the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (RDRRMC)-Western Visayas.

The Department of Science and Technology's Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-Pagasa) said that in the next 48 hours, the low-pressure area (LPA) could intensify into a tropical depression and could leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Sunday.

Another LPA may enter the PAR by Sunday, bringing rains in the coming days to Eastern Visayas and the eastern part of Mindanao.

On Friday, Palawan and Western Visayas should anticipate light to moderate rains with occasional heavy downpours.

From Friday until Sunday, scattered rains and thunderstorms are expected to occur in some areas of Visayas and Mindanao due to the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).

The city, municipal, barangay and provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils in the affected areas have been notified and recommended to take appropriate precautions.

As of 5 p.m.Thursday, the RDRRMC/Office of Civil Defense-Emergency Operations Center released an update on the effects of the LPA and ITCZ in Western Visayas.

Affected families

According to the Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (Dromic) Report 3 released, the recent disasters have affected several areas in Western Visayas.

The province of Capiz, specifically Cuartero, Dumalag, Dumarao and Tapaz, reported 35 barangays, 3,356 families and 16,558 individuals affected. Among them, 86 families (306 individuals) are currently seeking refuge inside evacuation centers, while 118 families (529 individuals) are staying outside the centers.

Meanwhile, Iloilo province, particularly Lambunao, Duenas, Passi City and San Enrique, reported 43 barangays, 1,574 families and 6,202 individuals affected.

Out of them, 1,260 families (5,055 individuals) are staying inside evacuation centers, while 311 families (1,136 individuals) are residing outside the centers.

In San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, one barangay reported 14 families and 52 individuals affected, with four families (28 individuals) seeking shelter inside the evacuation centers.

In total, the disasters have affected nine municipalities, 79 barangays, 4,944 families and 22,812 individuals in Western Visayas.

Among them, 1,350 families (5,389 individuals) have been staying inside evacuation centers, while 429 families (1,665 individuals) have been residing outside the centers.

According to local government unit situational reports, various locations have been damaged by floods as of 5 a.m. Thursday, May 4, 2023.

Province of Capiz (as of 11 a.m.)

Municipalities flooded: 9 (Dumalag, Dumarao, Sigma, Cuartero, Dao, Panay, Mambusao, Maayon, Tapaz)

Total flooded barangays: 51

Total flooded barangays with subsided water: 6

Iloilo Province

3 barangays in Lambunao, Iloilo

Negros Occidental

4 barangays in EB Magalona

Classes

Classes in various provinces in Western Visayas have been suspended due to several reasons.

In the Province of Antique, Tobias Fornier and Anini-y have a pending submission of executive orders for the suspension of all levels of classes on May 4.

The towns of Dumalag, Dao, Dumarao, and Cuartero in Capiz also have a pending submission of executive orders for the suspension of all levels of classes on May 4.

In Iloilo City, due to severe weather all courses in high school (senior/junior), elementary, and pre-school levels, for both public and private institutions, are canceled Thursday, May 4, 2023.

However, the decision to cancel classes at the college level is at the discretion of the school heads, based on their assessment of the situation.

Here is the updated suspension of classes in various provinces affected by the LPA and ITCZ as of Thursday.

Province of Antique:

Tobias Fornier - all levels - pending submission of EO

Anini-y - all levels - pending submission of EO

Province of Capiz:

Dumalag - all levels - EO No. 013 Series 2023

Dao - all levels - EO No. 26 Series 2023

Dumarao - all levels - pending submission of EO

Cuartero - all levels - EO No. 32 Series 2023

Panay - all levels - EO No. 12 Series 2023

Sigma - all levels - EO No. 11 Series 2023

Tapaz - classes in all levels - Memo Order No. 23-05-22

Province of Iloilo:

Balasan - all levels - EO No. 2023-05-068 Series of 2023

Calinog - all levels - pending submission of EO

San Dionisio - all levels - EO No. 28 Series 2023

Oton - preschool to secondary levels - pending submission of EO

San Enrique - all levels - pending submission of EO

Pototan - all levels - EO No. 59 Series 2023

San Joaquin - all levels - pending submission of EO

Balasan - pre-school to secondary levels - pending submission of EO

Sta. Barbara - all levels - pending submission of EO

Zarraga - kindergarten to secondary levels - EO No. 17 Series 2023

Duenas - all classes - pending submission of EO

Bingawan - all levels - pending submission of EO

Barotac Nuevo - all levels - pending submission of EO

Miagao - pre-school to secondary levels - pending submission of EO

San Enrique - all levels - pending submission of EO

Dumangas - all levels - pending submission of EO

Sara - all levels starting 12:00 noon - pending submission of EO

Passi City - all levels - pending submission of EO

Dingle - both elementary and high school (only those affected by flooding at the discretion of school principal) - pending submission of EO

Lambunao - both elementary and high school (only those affected by flooding at the discretion of school principal) - pending submission of EO

Negros Occidental:

Himamaylan City - all levels - EO No. 2023-35 Series of 2023

San Carlos City - all levels - May 3-4 - EO No. 169 Series of 2023

Pulupandan - all levels - May 3 - pending submission of EO

EB Magalona - all levels - May 4 - pending submission of EO

Landslide

The RDRRMC/OCD Operations Center has been monitoring several incidents in different areas.

In Dumalag, Capiz, soil erosion was observed in several barangays, but all roads are passable to all types of vehicles except for Mait Bridge.

Meanwhile, in Barangay Aglalana, Dumarao, Capiz, there was also soil erosion, but the road is still passable. On the other hand, flooding caused temporary road closures in Barangay Agba-o, Ngingi-an, Bulabog and Tapacon in Bigawan, Iloilo.

Landslides were reported in Barangays Toyungan, Cahigon and Binolosan Pequeno in Calinog, Iloilo, while Barangay Agsirab in Dumarao, Capiz also experienced soil erosion.

Assistance

In terms of assistance, Passi City provided goods distribution, while Lambunao distributed food items amounting to P32,043. DSWD also provided P283,360 worth of family food packs (FFPs) to Himamaylan City.

As of Thursday night, there are no reports of damaged houses. (SunStar Philippines)