ILOILO — Relentless rains brought by the southwest monsoon or habagat have displaced over 4,400 families across Western Visayas, with Iloilo suffering the worst flooding and storm-related disruption from July 7 to 8.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported that 4,420 families — or 16,359 individuals — were affected in 44 barangays in the provinces of Iloilo, Capiz, and Antique. Iloilo alone accounted for more than 94% of those displaced.
“The DSWD, in coordination with local social welfare offices, acted swiftly to extend relief assistance to affected families and individuals,” the agency’s regional office said in a statement.
Continuous rains submerged low-lying areas and communities near creeks and rivers, prompting emergency evacuations in several municipalities. In San Dionisio (Iloilo) and Maayon (Capiz), families were forced to flee rising floodwaters and seek shelter with relatives or in makeshift evacuation centers.
In Leganes, Iloilo, fresh flooding occurred in the early hours of July 11, further displacing families. Local social welfare officials confirmed that evacuees were housed either in designated centers or taken in by relatives.
Of the total displaced, five families (18 individuals) sought shelter in two evacuation centers, while 102 families (510 individuals) were aided outside formal facilities.
The DSWD distributed 4,378 family food packs broken down as follows:
* Iloilo — P1,061,459.76
* Capiz — P176,613.20
* Antique – P 1,850
A breakdown of affected families per province shows:
* Iloilo – 4,169 families (15,178 individuals) in 36 barangays
* Capiz – 250 families (1,178 individuals) in 7 barangays
* Antique – 1 family (3 individuals) in 1 barangay
The towns affected include Iloilo City, Leganes, San Dionisio, and Ajuy in Iloilo; Cuartero and Maayon in Capiz; and Sibalom in Antique.
The habagat typically affects the country from June to October, bringing heavy rains and high humidity to western regions. This seasonal weather pattern poses ongoing flood risks to vulnerable communities in the Visayas./PN
