• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
The Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) placed the Provincial Emergency Operations Center (EOC) under red alert status yesterday, in relation to the enhanced southwest monsoon due to the severe tropical cyclone ‘Opong.’
The alert status was raised in reference to Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) Negros Island Region (NIR) Memorandum 11 series of 2025.
PDRRMO Head Irene Bel Ploteña said in an interview that under the red alert status, all of the concerned agencies, such as the Provincial Health Office (PHO) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), are compelled to be prepared at all times.
“The red alert status means that our teams are ready for deployment in case there are any reported incidents and to prepare when local government units will seek assistance,” she said, citing that the government agencies concerned are on standby.
CLASS SUSPENSIONS
Pursuant to the Memorandum Circular No. 102 issued by the Office of the President, classes in all levels both in public and private are suspended today, September 26 in the whole province of Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City.
The declaration was due to the enhanced southwest monsoon and the severe tropical storm. The suspension of work depends on the discretion of the LGUs and private sectors.
Negros Oriental Governor Manuel Sagarbarria released an executive order yesterday suspending classes in all levels in the whole province of Negros Oriental.
Office of the Civil Defense-Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) Director Donato Sermeno III said that they are closely monitoring the tropical storm at the northern part of the Negros Island Region, particularly Negros Oriental.
“Every three hours we are updated by PAGASA so that we can assess the situation,” he said.
According to the guidelines of the OCD-NIR, under yellow rainfall, LGUs have the discretion whether or not to suspend classes, under orange rainfall status, classes at all levels are hereby cancelled, while under red rainfall status, classes and work will be automatically suspended, said Sermeno.
TRAJECTORY
Based on the weather updates by the PDRRMO, tropical cyclone ‘Opong’ was projected to impact the Northern part of Negros Occidental.
“Right now, our weather in the whole province is gloomy to light to moderate. We raised signal number 1 on the northern part, which is from Escalante to Talisay,” Ploteña said, disclosing that the southern part will also be affected due to the enhanced southwest monsoon.
As of the 5 p.m. weather update yesterday, the province was tagged as orange rainfall. The PDRRMO has reported no flooding incidents in the province.*
