CLASSES at all levels in some local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental remain suspended on Friday, July 18, 2025, due to the heavy rains and floods brought about by the southwest monsoon enhanced by Tropical Depression (TD) Crising.
These LGUs include the cities of Bacolod, Talisay, Silay, Sipalay, Kabankalan, La Carlota, Himamaylan, Bago, and the towns of La Castellana, Isabela, Binalbagan, Calatrava, Hinigaran, Cauayan, Ilog, Valladolid, Moises Padilla, Candoni, Don Salvador, Hinoba-an, Murcia, Pulupandan, Pontevedra, and E.B. Magalona.
On Thursday, July 17, the local chief executives also suspended classes at all levels in both public and private schools, but private schools with asynchronous and online classes may continue at the discretion of the school administration.
Some LGUs in southern Negros Occidental were also hit by floods due to heavy rains triggered by the southwest monsoon or habagat.
These LGUs include the cities of Kabankalan and Himamaylan, and the towns of Cauayan, Hinoba-an, Binalbagan, Moises Padilla, and Ilog.
In an interview, Irene Bel Ploteña, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), said thousands of residents were affected by floods, which reached waist level.
She said most of them were evacuated, and they are now closely monitoring the affected LGUs for possible augmentation from the provincial government.
Kabankalan City Mayor Benjie Miranda also issued Executive Order 2025-031-A, dated July 18, 2025, extending the declaration of a localized suspension of work in government offices within the territorial jurisdiction of the city due to the effects of TD Crising and the southwest monsoon.
Miranda said on his social media page that the city continues to experience the effects of TD Crising and the southwest monsoon, causing the Ilog-Hilabangan River to overflow and several areas in the city to be flooded.
“Upon the advice of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) and other stakeholders, there is a need to extend the suspension of work in government offices with the territorial of the city to ensure the safety of the government workers,” he said.
Himamaylan City Mayor Raymund Tongson also ordered the suspension of work in government offices within the territorial jurisdiction of the city.
However, Tongson said employees in departments directly involved in the provision of law enforcement, health services, critical emergency services, and disaster risk reduction and management—particularly the CDRRMO, City Environment, General Services Office, City Social Welfare and Development Office, and City Health Office—shall maintain their workforce to ensure the continuity of vital public services.
He said some of their barangays were affected by floods, and the affected residents were evacuated.
The Himamaylan City DRRMO Emergency Operations Center is also continuously monitoring TD Crising as well as the status of flooded areas using the Project Signal system. (MAP)