Several local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental, including this capital city, canceled classes in all levels on Thursday following a heavy rainfall warning issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). Other areas where classes have been canceled include the cities of Talisay, Silay, Victorias, San Carlos, Himamaylan and Kabankalan as well as the municipalities of E.B. Magalona and Pulupandan. As of 11 a.m., the orange warning level was still up in Negros Occidental, particularly in the south, including the cities of Himamaylan, Kabankalan and Sipalay and the towns of Candoni, Ilog, Cauayan, Candoni and Hinoba-an. This means ‘flooding is threatening in low-lying areas and landslides in mountainous areas’. For the rest of Negros Occidental, the yellow warning level was hoisted, which indicates that ‘flooding is possible in low-lying areas and landslides in mountainous areas’. Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson raised a blue alert status since Wednesday night ‘due to the low pressure area embedded along the intertropical convergence zone, which brings continuous rains, possible flooding, and landslides’. ‘The alert status at the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Emergency Operation Center is hereby raised to blue alert immediately until the weather condition improves,’ Lacson said. The governor also encouraged continuous monitoring in all the cities and municipalities and submission of preparedness measures and updates.

Source: Philippines News Agency