• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Classes in public and private schools were suspended in 27 of the 32 local government units in Negros Occidental, as Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday placed all disaster risk and reduction management offices and councils on alert status.
A landslide was reported yesterday in Sitio Panlucasan, Brgy. Cabatangan, Talisay City, where an 8-year old child, was injured and is now being treated for his injuries at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City. The victim’s house was destroyed by a landslide.
The Quick Response Team of the Talisay City government, through its City Social Welfare Development Office, immediately sent hot meals and food packs to the victims of the landslide, a family of five.
In his issued memorandum placing Negros Occidental under blue alert status, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the low pressure area (LPA) and shear line that was spotted in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur has affected sections of Visayas and southern Luzon.
It brings continuous rains, and possible flooding and landslides in the province, Lacson said. In Sagay City, the city government conducted a preemptive evacuation in Brgy. Poblacion after floodwaters entered some houses.
Classes were also suspended in highly urbanized Bacolod City, component cities of Silay, Sagay, Victorias, San Carlos, Talisay, Bago, Kabankalan, La Carlota, Cadiz, Escalante, and Himamaylan, as well as the municipalities of EB Magalona, Manapla Murcia, Pontevedra, Valladolid, Calatrava, Pulupandan, Isabela, Cauayan, Ilog, La Castellana and Binalbagan.
Working hours at the Provincial Capitol of Negros Occidental and the Silay City Hall were shortened to allow government workers to go home early.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the gale warning was in northern Luzon and Visayas due to the northeast monsoon.
Due to rough sea conditions, the San Carlos City Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Office issued an advisory that all trips of seas vessels from the port of San Carlos City bound for Toledo Port in Cebu have been cancelled.
Zeaphard Gerhart Caelian, Provincial Disaster Management Program Division chief, yesterday said that residents in flood prone areas were advised to take preventive evacuations, if necessary.
Caelian attributed the rains which intermittent to moderate, and at times heavy, to the joint effects of the LPA and shear line.
He said that the continuous rains saturated the soil and reminded Negrenses to be vigilant.*
