• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
La Castellana residents living near waterways sought higher and safer ground on Sunday night after experiencing flashfloods, following an appeal made by Vice Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor Mangilimutan for them to evacuate.
Water at Tamburong Bridge in Barangay Biak-na-Bato, La Castellana, overflowed on Sunday, due to continuous rain and hardened lahar.
Mangilimutan reported last night the continued rise of water levels in the rivers of La Castellana.
Many waterways in La Castellana have become shallow due to hardened lahar.
The Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park has allowed the dredging of volcanic debris from waterways, but did not allow the hauling of dredged materials outside of the Kanlaon protected area.
Flashfloods were also reported in low-lying areas of Sitio Pata-an in Brgy. Mailum, Bago City.
Due to inclement weather, Mayor Miguel Angelo Yulo and Mayor Emmanuel Aranda suspended classes on September 1 at all levels in Isabela and Binalbagan, respectively.
Aside from La Castellana, classes at all levels were also declared suspended by Mayor Rogelio Raymund Tongson in Himamaylan City.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that two LPAs (low pressure area) and the southwest monsoon, will continue to bring moderate to heavy rainfall in Negros Occidental on Monday (Sept.1).
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office of Negros Occidental has warned of possible flooding in Binalbagan, Cauayan, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Pontevedra, and San Enrique, and the cities of La Carlota, Himamaylan, and Kabankalan.*
