MGB: 516 Western Visayas villages prone to flood, landslide

Western Visayas Map. INQUIRER FILES

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — A total of 516 barangays in Western Visayas were identified by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Region 6 as susceptible to rain-induced landslides and flooding during the period of June 22 to 25, when Tropical Cyclone Francisco and the enhanced southwest monsoon (Habagat) brought heavy rains across parts of the region.

The assessment was presented during a weather update briefing of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) 6, based on MGB Region 6’s rainfall accumulation forecast issued at 8 a.m. on June 22.

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According to the bureau, the vulnerable areas were located in 20 municipalities across the provinces of Antique, Iloilo and Guimaras.

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Antique recorded the highest number of potentially affected communities, with 346 barangays in 12 municipalities identified as prone to flooding and rain-induced landslides. These municipalities were Barbaza, Laua-an, Bugasong, Valderrama, Patnongon, Belison, Sibalom, San Remigio, San Jose de Buenavista, Hamtic, Tobias Fornier and Anini-y.

In Iloilo, 111 barangays in the municipalities of Tigbauan, Miagao and San Joaquin were included in the advisory.

Meanwhile, Guimaras accounted for 59 barangays spread across its five municipalities: Buenavista, Jordan, Nueva Valencia, San Lorenzo and Sibunag.

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MGB Region 6 also cautioned that communities not included in the list could still experience flooding or landslide-related hazards, particularly those located near or downstream of the identified high-risk areas.

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The bureau advised local government units and residents in vulnerable communities to closely monitor weather updates and heed disaster preparedness measures, including possible preemptive evacuations, as heavy rainfall associated with Francisco and Habagat persisted during the forecast period.

The advisory formed part of the region’s preparedness efforts as Western Visayas faced the combined effects of the tropical cyclone and the southwest monsoon, which heightened the risk of flooding and landslides in several low-lying and mountainous communities. /cb

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