919 barangays in Western Visayas face flood, landslide risks

Inquirer Files

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — At least 919 barangays in Western Visayas are at heightened risk of rain-induced landslides and flooding as Typhoon Inday continues to enhance the southwest monsoon or “habagat,” according to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

The warning, based on the agency’s rainfall accumulation forecast issued at 8 p.m. on July 7, covers 34 municipalities and cities in four provinces across the region, where continuous moderate to heavy rainfall is expected to saturate the ground and trigger flooding and slope failures.

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The MGB identified Antique as having the largest number of at-risk barangays with 562 spread across 18 municipalities, followed by Iloilo with 222 barangays in five municipalities, Aklan with 73 barangays in six municipalities, and Guimaras with 62 barangays in five municipalities.

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In Aklan, the affected municipalities are Madalag, Malinao, Buruanga, Ibajay, Malay and Nabas.

The warning for Antique covers Barbaza, Bugasong, Laua-an, Valderrama, Pandan, Anini-y, Belison, Culasi, Hamtic, Libertad, Patnongon, San Jose de Buenavista, San Remigio, Sebaste, Sibalom, Tibiao, Tobias Fornier and Caluya.

In Iloilo, the municipalities identified are Miagao, San Joaquin, Guimbal, Igbaras and Tigbauan.

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Meanwhile, in Guimaras, the affected areas include Buenavista, Jordan, Nueva Valencia, San Lorenzo and Sibunag.

READ: Batanes, 2 areas under signal No. 2 as Typhoon Inday holds strength

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The MGB said rainfall brought by Inday and the enhanced southwest monsoon could destabilize slopes and rapidly increase river levels, placing communities near mountainsides, steep terrain and low-lying flood-prone areas at greater risk.

Residents were urged to closely monitor advisories from their local disaster risk reduction and management offices, watch for warning signs such as tension cracks on the ground, leaning trees or utility poles, and sudden increases or muddying of river water.

The bureau also advised the public to keep communication lines open with barangay officials and immediately comply with preemptive evacuation orders should local authorities issue them.

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) and concerned local government units have placed response teams on standby as they continue monitoring weather conditions and the possible effects of heavy rainfall across Western Visayas.

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Authorities stressed that early evacuation and public cooperation remain crucial in preventing casualties as Inday continues to influence weather conditions over the region. /cb