• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental is now under Red Alert status, due to Tropical Cyclone ‘Basyang’ that is expected to hit southern Negros on February 6, based on the forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
On the other hand, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology also logged ash emission events at Kanlaon Volcano on Wednesday.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said that Negros Occidental is expecting heavy rainfall on Thursday and Friday, which was also experienced last week by Negrenses.
“We are hoping that it will slow down. But it is better to be prepared,” Lacson said.
Local chief executives ordered suspension of classes on February 5 and 6 in La Castellana and Isabela, Negros Occidental, as well as Siaton and Guihulngan City in Negros Oriental. Classes were suspended on Feb. 6 in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental.
According to PAGASA, the eye of Basyang will make the initial landfall over eastern Mindanao between Thursday evening and Friday morning. Afterwards, it will traverse the landmass of northeastern Mindanao and Central and Western Visayas, and emerge over the Sulu Sea by Saturday morning.
After its initial landfall, PAGASA said it will weaken into tropical depression while traversing Visayas and will be downgraded to low pressure area by Sunday.
While he is leaving the call for local government units to initiate pre-emptive evacuations, Lacson said he encouraged Negrenses to cooperate if there is a call for such.
The state weather bureau expects 50mm to 100mm rainfall in Negros Island on Feb. 5 and 6, and warns that localized flooding is possible mainly in areas that are urbanized, low-lying or near rivers, and landslide in highly susceptible areas.
The shearline-induced rains during the weekend led to flooding in seven Negros Occidental LGUs, affecting 18,547 residents, damaged or destroyed 1,076 houses, as well as P6.55 million worth of crops and livestock.*
