ILOILO City – Although Tropical Storm Verbena’s center was estimated 130 kilometers west of Coron, Palawan yesterday, its broad rainbands continued to affect Panay and Negros islands, prompting some local governments and school divisions to halt in-person classes.
The region remained under threat from heavy rain, flooding, and possible landslides, according to the Department of Education (DepEd) Situation Report issued on November 26.
DepEd data showed that Western Visayas was among the regions with significant academic disruptions, with thousands of learners and education personnel affected by precautionary class suspensions. Several school divisions in Region 6 implemented cancellations as a result of persistent rains and localized flooding, consistent with the heavy rainfall outlook issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), which projected 50 to 200 millimeters of rainfall over affected provinces.
Hazard maps included in the national report reflected multiple areas in Western Visayas with moderate to high susceptibility to floods and rain-induced landslides. Provinces such as Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, and Antique showed numerous schools falling within at-risk zones.
Overall, 3,150 schools nationwide were identified as exposed to flooding and 3,465 to landslides, and Western Visayas accounted for a notable share of these at-risk institutions based on its geographic vulnerability and recent weather patterns.
While the national rapid damage assessment recorded 24 minor damaged classrooms, seven major damaged classrooms, and 24 totally damaged classrooms, DepEd said Western Visayas continues to validate its own field reports as teams assess campuses affected by floodwaters and strong winds. The agency emphasized that data for Region 6 are still being consolidated due to ongoing weather disturbances.
DepEd Region 6 has been coordinating with local disaster risk reduction and management councils and school heads to ensure readiness and safety. Measures include the continued suspension of face-to-face classes where needed, activation of School Disaster Risk Reduction and Management teams, protection of learning materials and facilities, and close monitoring of landslide-prone upland communities as well as flood-prone low-lying barangays.
DepEd reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding learners and personnel in Western Visayas as Verbena’s rains persist and as the region braces for secondary hazards such as runoff floods and saturated slopes. Authorities urged communities to remain vigilant and responsive to advisories issued by PAGASA and local disaster risk reduction management councils./PN
