ILOILO City –The number of individuals impacted by the shear line and low-pressure area in Western Visayas rose to 80,319 (or 23,224 families), according to the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) as of 12 a.m. this Wednesday, Nov. 22.
Of these, 494 families (1,841 individuals) moved to 43 evacuation centers while 1,304 families (4,749 persons) received assistance outside of these centers.
Data from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) regional office further showed that the displaced were from 101 barangays spread across three provinces: Aklan, with 703 families or 2,698 individuals; Capiz, with 18,494 families or 61,705 individuals; and Iloilo, with 4,027 families or 15,916 individuals.
Notably, municipalities in Aklan such as Altavas and Balete, along with San Dionisio in Iloilo, and Sigma, Pontevedra, Panay, Panit-an, Dao, and Mambusao in Capiz, have reported significant numbers of affected families.
To date, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6 has distributed 336 family food packs, valued at P178,000, to the families impacted in Aklan.
Capiz and Aklan experienced notably heavy rainfall on Sunday, Nov. 19.
Furthermore, on the morning of Nov. 22, OCD issued a General Flood Advisory for the region, based on the report from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
The advisory addresses the impact of the shear line on the eastern sections of Southern Luzon and Visayas, and the influence of the northeast monsoon on the rest of Luzon.
Consequently, the region is expected to experience light to moderate rains or thunderstorms. Rivers and tributaries likely to be affected include:
* Negros Occidental – Malogo, Sicaba, Grande, Himogaan, Danao, Upper Tabanan, Sipalay, and Lower Ilog
* Antique – Sibalom, Ipayo, Cagaranan, Palawan, Cairauan, Dalanas, and Tibiao
* Aklan – Ibajay, Aklan, and Jalo
* Iloilo – Pinantan, Barotac, Akalaygan, Jalaud, Jalano, Jagdong, Jalaur, Lamunan, Jaro-Aganan, Sibalom, and Guimbal
* Capiz – Panay, Mambusao, Panay Malinao, Alingon, and Balantian
The advisory specifically cautions people living near mountain slopes and in low-lying areas along these river systems. Local disaster risk reduction and management councils are advised to remain vigilant for possible flash floods./PN
