ANTIQUE – Tropical Storm “Crising” continued to lash the province of Antique with heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon or habagat, submerging roads, flooding communities, and triggering landslides across multiple towns as of Friday, July 18.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) placed the province under a red rainfall warning due to the heightened risk of landslides and widespread flooding. Crising was last tracked approximately 310 kilometers east-northeast of Casiguran, Aurora, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (km/h) and gusts of up to 80 km/h. It is moving northwestward at 20 km/h.
According to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), more than 1,231 individuals or 307 families have been evacuated from affected areas. These include the municipalities of Culasi, Sebaste, Laua-an, Bugasong, Tibiao, Barbaza, San Jose, Sibalom, and Anini-y.
Flooding and torrential rains have impacted 83 barangays across 13 municipalities, with bridges in Barbaza and Laua-an becoming impassable as the Dalusan River overflowed. Authorities also monitored the rising water level of the Sibalom River early morning yesterday.
In the towns of Sibalom and Sebaste, floodwaters continued to inundate roads and homes, leaving three individuals missing. Search and rescue operations were ongoing, led by barangay officials, local responders, and volunteers.
In Sebaste’s Barangay Abiera, a landslide buried four houses on Thursday, July 17. Provincial LDRRMO 4 officer Michael Tolentino also confirmed reports of additional landslides in Barangay Abiera and Bacalan in Sebaste, Barangay Bahuyan in Barbaza, Barangays Villa Crespo and Igbarawan in Patnongon, Barangay Capnayan in Laua-an.
“Almost all municipalities are prone to flooding,” Tolentino warned, emphasizing the need for continuous vigilance.
In response to the worsening situation, Coast Guard Station Antique deployed response teams to assist affected residents. Rescue teams are conducting search operations and clearing road blockages brought by debris and mud.
The Provincial Government of Antique, through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (OPSWDO) headed by Gov. Paolo S. Javier, has begun distributing relief goods and rice to displaced families, particularly in the towns of Culasi and Sebaste.
As of the latest report, more than P665,000 in assistance has been provided to affected families, according to initial data from the PDRRMO. Of this amount, P622,000 came from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Over 3,000 families or more than 12,000 individuals in Antique have been affected by the adverse weather conditions.
The PDRRMO, as of press time, continued to monitor the situation across the province and coordinate efforts to support displaced residents as Tropical Storm “Crising” and the habagat persist./PN
