ILOILO City — The southwest monsoon, locally known as habagat, has led to significant displacement in Western Visayas from September 12 to 14, affecting 44,694 families or 142,041 individuals across 376 barangays, with the provinces of Antique and Negros Occidental being the hardest hit.
According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), 5,482 families (17,788 individuals) are currently in evacuation centers, while 2,231 families (7,098 individuals) have sought shelter outside such facilities.
Many others were gradually returning to their homes as this was being written.
The habagat is a seasonal wind pattern that generally occurs from late May or early June through October. It is characterized by moist, warm air blowing from the southwest direction. This monsoon significantly influences the weather in the country, especially on the western sections of the Philippines, which include the regions of Luzon, Visayas, and parts of Mindanao.
During the habagat season, the predominant wind flow brings high levels of humidity and substantial rainfall. This often leads to intense and prolonged periods of rain, which often result in flooding, especially in low-lying and coastal areas.
The heavy rains are particularly impactful during times when tropical cyclones (typhoons) are present in or near the Philippines – like last week when Tropical Storm Bebinca entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility and was given the local name Ferdie – as these storms can enhance the monsoon’s effects, leading to even more severe weather conditions.
A breakdown of the affected families per province shows the following:
* Aklan – 155 families or 754 individuals
* Antique – 17,212 families or 54,571 individuals
* Guimaras – 33 families or 99 individuals
* Iloilo – 22 families or 101 individuals
* Negros Occidental – 26,832 families or 85,075 individuals
In response, DSWD Region 6 led by Regional Director Carmelo Nochete distributed 6,610 family food packs worth P5,793,802.
Specifically, 4,414 packs valued at P4,009,694 went to Antique and 2,196 packs worth P1,957,669 were provided to Negros Occidental.
Further reports from the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) indicated that Western Visayas had seen 23 houses damaged by the flooding and storm surge, with six completely destroyed and 17 partially damaged.
The damages were particularly severe in Negros Occidental (five houses) and Antique (18 houses).
Additionally, infrastructure damage in Patnongon, Antique, specifically a road valued at P200,000 connecting barangays Salaguiawan and Magarang, has rendered it inaccessible to four-wheel vehicles.
The relentless rains also led to the cancellation of several sea trips this Sunday morning, September 15, as per the advisories from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
The Coast Guard Station in Guimaras temporarily suspended voyages for vessels under 250 gross tonnage in and out of its jurisdiction.
Travel restrictions included routes from Sebaste Port in Sibunag, Guimaras, to Pulupandan Port in Negros Occidental and vice versa, as well as from the wharves of Jordan and Buenavista in Guimaras to Parola wharf in Iloilo, limiting passenger capacity to 75% and permitting travel only from sunrise to sunset.
Further cancellations by PCG-Iloilo affected routes from Iloilo City to Palawan, Ajuy, Iloilo to EB Magalona, Negros Occidental, Iloilo City to Bacolod City, and Iloilo City to Buenavista, Guimaras. Although initially canceled last Saturday due to gale warnings, these trips resumed later in the day./PN
