ILOILO City — Nearly one million learners across Western Visayas were affected by class suspensions and the shift to alternative learning delivery as Tropical Cyclone “Basyang,” now downgraded into a depression, continued to bring threats of strong winds and heavy rains, prompting disaster officials to warn local governments against complacency.
As of 9 a.m. on Friday, February 6, data from the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6 showed 800,398 learners from 2,737 schools in 101 municipalities were affected after local government units suspended face-to-face classes and shifted to alternative modes of learning.
The number of affected learners by Schools Division Office (SDO) is as follows: Aklan – 114,885; Antique – 112,583; Capiz – 141,823; Guimaras – 42,797; Iloilo Province – 266,943; Iloilo City – 73,951; Passi City – 17,355; Roxas City – 30,061.
Beyond the education sector, disruptions persisted in sea travel. The Coast Guard District Western Visayas (CGDWV) reported 1,292 stranded passengers, drivers, and cargo helpers as of 12 noon Friday due to the continued suspension of sea trips across the region. Only pump boats plying the Iloilo City–Guimaras route were allowed to operate, but at 50 percent capacity.
Aside from stranded passengers, the CGDWV also listed seven vessels and 597 rolling cargoes stuck at various ports.
“The CGDWV monitored 185 ports affected with 1,292 passengers/truck drivers/cargo helpers, 597 rolling cargoes, seven vessels, and zero motorbancas were stranded due to Tropical Depression Basyang,” the CGDWV said in a statement.
Despite the cyclone’s weakening, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) urged LGUs to remain on high alert. Its chairperson and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 6 director Raul Fernandez emphasized that local governments should continue assessing conditions within their areas, especially those prone to landslides and flooding, as hazardous weather remains possible.
Fernandez issued the warning during a virtual weather briefing among RDRRMC members on Friday morning in line with the council’s decision to raise the Operations Center’s alert status to Red, effective 8 a.m.
Based on the 11 a.m. bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Iloilo Radar Station, “Basyang” had weakened into a tropical depression as it approached Bohol.
Iloilo Radar Station meteorologist Engr. Ferdinand Rubin said the weather system was expected to traverse Negros Island later Friday while maintaining its strength, pass Panay Island by Saturday, and eventually weaken into a low-pressure area.
While no significant rainfall had been recorded in the region as of the report, Rubin cautioned that heavy rainfall warnings may still be issued as the system moves closer.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) earlier reported that 1,654 barangays in 55 localities across Western Visayas remain susceptible to rain-induced landslides and flooding.
Local DRRMCs in Iloilo province and Iloilo City also reported stranded passengers at several seaports, including Ajuy and Dumangas, with affected travelers being assisted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VI and local social welfare offices./PN
