ILOILO City – Tropical Depression “Verbena” threatens to unleash widespread rain across Western Visayas, triggering massive class suspensions yesterday and placing more than a thousand schools under flooding and landslide risk as the weather system barrels westward across the Visayas.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Verbena was 345 kilometers east of Surigao City early Monday with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h and gusts of 55 km/h, moving rapidly at 30 km/h as it continued its path toward the Visayas.
The cyclone is expected to cross the region within 24 to 36 hours, bringing heavy rains over Panay, Negros, and nearby islands, before intensifying into a tropical storm and heading toward Palawan midweek.
184,128 learners affected; classes suspended across WV
The Department of Education (DepEd) suspended classes across multiple provinces, affecting 184,128 learners in 1,062 schools throughout Western Visayas as of Monday noon.
The suspensions were carried out in line with DepEd Order No. 22, series of 2024, which outlines class disruption protocols during disasters.
DepEd Region 6 spokesperson Hernani Escullar Jr. said the agency remains focused on safeguarding the school community.
“The safety and education of our learners and educators remain our primary concern during these trying times. We are dedicated to facilitating support to ensure that learning continues, even in adverse situations,” he said.
Roxas City extended the suspension of all face-to-face classes, both public and private, for Tuesday, November 25, citing ongoing threats from hazardous weather.
School exposure: 728 flood-prone, 598 landslide-prone
A DepEd risk assessment identified 728 schools in Region 6 as vulnerable to flooding, particularly those located in low-lying and river-adjacent communities in Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, and Antique.
Another 598 schools were tagged as highly susceptible to rain-induced landslides, especially in upland barangays of Iloilo, Antique, and Negros Occidental.
Municipalities and school heads have been instructed to activate contingency plans, safeguard learning equipment, and shift to modular distance learning where needed.
TCWS No. 1 raised over Western Visayas
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 remained hoisted over Iloilo, Capiz, Antique, Aklan, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, and several neighboring provinces in the Visayas. Verbena’s winds are being reinforced by the Northeast Monsoon, which PAGASA said could generate strong to gale-force winds, threatening coastal and upland areas.
Satellite images on Monday morning showed thick rain clouds blanketing much of the Visayas, raising alarms over saturated soil, rising rivers, and possible flash floods.
Storm track: Near Antique by Tuesday; possible intensification
PAGASA’s projected path places Verbena passing near the coastal waters of Tibiao, Antique by Tuesday afternoon, making Panay Island among the areas most exposed to prolonged rainfall.
The weather bureau expects the system to intensify into a tropical storm as it approaches Palawan before exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility near the Kalayaan Island Group.
Breakdown of affected learners in WV (DepEd-6 data)
* Antique – 9,825 learners (484 schools)
* Capiz – 72,945 learners (199 schools)
* Guimaras – 3,099 learners (98 schools)
* Iloilo Province – 40,608 learners (137 schools)
* Iloilo City – 7,546 learners (48 schools)
* Passi City – 20,044 learners (46 schools)
* Roxas City – 30,061 learners (50 schools)
LGUs, schools on alert
DepEd urged school officials to coordinate closely with local disaster councils and report real-time conditions through its Incident Management Reporting System.
Local government units have also been advised to prepare evacuation centers and emergency response teams as rainfall continues.
With Verbena expected to bring more rains through midweek, authorities across Western Visayas remain on high alert, monitoring waterways, mountain slopes, and flood-prone communities for potential emergencies./PN
