• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
As shearline-induced rains continue over Negros Island, classes were suspended on Tuesday in 22 towns and cities of Negros Occidental.
Included are schools in the cities of San Carlos, Cadiz, Sagay, Victorias, Silay, Talisay, Bago, Himamaylan, and La Carlota, and the municipalities of Pontevedra, Pulupandan, San Enrique, Hinigaran, Isabela, La Castellana, Calatrava, Toboso, Don Salvador Benedicto, Manapla, E.B. Magalona, and Murcia.
Mayor Greg Gasataya also ordered suspension of classes in highly-urbanized Bacolod City, while Mayor Abelardo Bantug III extended the suspension of classes in Victorias City to February 11.
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Irene Bel Ploteña reported that they have already pre-positioned PDRRMO assets, including Water and Search Rescue (WASAR) teams for deployment in Escalante City, in case needed in the 1st and 2nd district of Negros Occidental, with Coast Guard stations in northern Negros placed on standby to respond to any eventualities.
While light to moderate rains, or sometimes heavy rainfall were experienced by residents of the affected LGUs, Ploteña said the river systems remain normal.
On Monday, some 318 families in cities of Talisay and Silay, Negros Occidental participated in pre-emptive evacuations due to heavy rains. However, the majority of them returned to their homes on Tuesday.
The shear line and the northeast monsoon or “amihan” will continue to affect many parts of the country, the weather bureau said on Tuesday.
In an advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that Visayas will continue to have cloudy skies with scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms due to the shear line.
The PDRRMO issued a heavy rainfall red warnings in Escalante City, Toboso, Manapla, Enrique B. Magalona, Silay City, Cadiz City, Calatrava, Salvador Benedicto, Victorias City, Bacolod City, Murcia, Bago City, Pulupandan, Valladolid, La Carlota City, San Enrique, and cities of San Carlos and Talisay, where serious flooding is expected in low-lying areas, and landslides in mountainous areas.*
