Nineteen families with 55 members were preemptively evacuated amidst an impending hazard caused by a rain-induced landslide in Purok San Jose, Barangay Alijis in Bacolod City on Monday, April 11.
The residents of Puroks San Jose 1 and 2 in Brgy Alijis were brought to the Emilia J. Garcia Elementary School evacuation center, Dr. Anna Maria Pornan, City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) head, said.
They were also continuing to monitor the situation of residents living close to rivers in Bacolod City as rain continued to pour, she said.
The rain brought on by Tropical Depression “Agaton” and a low pressure area is expected to last until Tuesday to Wednesday, Pornan said.
The Bacolod City Schools Division also ordered the suspension of face-to-face classes in seven schools in Bacolod City on Monday.
Assistant Schools Division Superintendent OIC Reynaldo Gico suspended classes at the Alangilan National High School, Alangilan Farm School, Rafael Alunan Elementary School, Alberto Arceo Sr. Elementary School, Apolinario Mabini Elementary School, Andres Bonifacio Elementary School and the Education and Training Center School III.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia directed all barangay captains on Monday to monitor flooding incidents and closely coordinate with the CDRRMO as “Agaton” and a low pressure area continued to bring moderate to heavy rains.
Leonardia said the barangay leaders must also be aware of an approaching third weather disturbance, Tropical Storm “Malakas”.
He also called on them to ready their evacuation centers that had been identified earlier based on their Barangay DRRMO’s Oplan Listo.
The National DRRM Council removed Western Visayas from the list of high risk areas on Monday but Bacolod communities must be on alert because of continuous rains triggered by the weather disturbances, Pornan said.
The CDRRMO may be reached through its hotline at 445-3605, she said.*