ILOILO City – Floodwaters swept through at least 30 barangays in Iloilo City and other parts of Western Visayas on Friday, July 24, as Tropical Storm Kiyapo intensified the southwest monsoon (habagat), disrupting classes for 481,034 learners and placing 264 communities at risk of flooding and rain-induced landslides.
Five families composed of 12 individuals were evacuated from Barangay Calubihan in Jaro district as floodwaters continued to rise, while two fallen trees were also monitored, according to the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).
The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) placed its operations center under blue alert effective 8 a.m. Friday after updated forecasts indicated that moderate to heavy rains would affect the region earlier than initially expected.
Flooding was recorded in communities across Iloilo City’s seven districts as of 11:30 a.m., with none of the inundated areas reporting that floodwaters had subsided.
“We evacuated five families, or 12 individuals, from Barangay Calubihan, and we have monitored two trees that have fallen,” CDRRMO’s Sharry Ledesma said.
Floodwaters reached 36 inches in Barangay Don Esteban, Lapuz district — the deepest recorded in the city — while Barangay Divinagracia in La Paz district reported flooding as high as 30 inches.
Among the flooded barangays were Ortiz, Esperanza Tanza, Timawa Tanza-Zone 2, Inday and Zamora-Melliza in the City Proper district; Divinagracia, Lopez Jaena Sur, Nabitasan, Lopez Jaena Norte, Bantud-Dicen Street and Baldoza-Villa Hermosa in La Paz; and Sinikway, Loboc-Villa San Lorenzo and Don Esteban-Zone 7 Extension in Lapuz.
Flooding was also monitored in Poblacion-Zone 3, San Juan-Zone 2, Cochero, East Baluarte, Calumpang, Taal and Infante in Molo district; Oñate de Leon-Punta de Leon, Calajunan-Zone 2, Navais-Sitio Sapa, PHHC Block 17-Block 28 and Tabucan-Zyron in Mandurriao district; Calubihan-Zone 2, San Isidro-Zone 8, Balabago, Alta Tierra and Landheights in Jaro; and Sooc Projects 7, 6 and 5 and Sooc Proper in Arevalo district.
Ledesma said Iloilo City could receive up to 100 millimeters of rain until Saturday morning.
“Based on the pre-disaster risk assessment conducted yesterday, Iloilo City is expected to experience yellow rainfall warning conditions, with up to 100 millimeters of rainfall until tomorrow morning. That is why we are continuously monitoring the developments and tropical cyclone bulletins issued by DOST-PAGASA,” she said.
“This is practically the kind of rainfall we are already experiencing now,” she added.
Flooding was likewise reported in Hamtic, Antique, and Jordan, Guimaras.
The severe weather forced 1,380 schools in 47 municipalities and cities across Western Visayas to suspend face-to-face classes, affecting 481,034 learners.
Iloilo province accounted for the largest number, with 774 schools in 28 municipalities and 258,117 learners affected.
In Antique, 425 schools across 14 municipalities suspended classes, affecting 108,730 learners.
Guimaras recorded 116 schools in five municipalities with 41,060 learners affected, while Iloilo City’s suspension covered 65 schools and 73,127 learners.
“In view of the inclement weather condition brought about by the Southwest Monsoon (habagat) enhanced by Tropical Storm Kiyapo, and to ensure the safety and welfare of learners, teachers, and school personnel, classes in all levels, both in public and private schools, throughout the Province of Guimaras are hereby suspended today, July 24, 2026,” the provincial government announced.
Iloilo City’s Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu suspended in-person classes from preschool to senior high school and recommended a shift to alternative modes of instruction “to protect students and safeguard commuters from localized flooding and heavy rains.”
In Antique, Gov. Paolo Javier issued Memorandum No. 225 suspending work in provincial government offices and national government agencies after floods disrupted road access in several areas “upon recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC).”
Javier, however, ordered that offices providing health, disaster response, public safety and other essential services remain operational.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau identified 264 barangays in Antique, Iloilo and Guimaras as vulnerable to flooding and rain-induced landslides.
These included 107 barangays in Antique, particularly in Barbaza, Laua-an, Anini-y, Hamtic and Tobias Fornier; 98 in Iloilo, especially in Miagao, San Joaquin and Tigbauan; and 59 across Buenavista, Jordan, Nueva Valencia, San Lorenzo and Sibunag in Guimaras.
Between 50 and 100 millimeters of rain was forecast from noon Friday to noon Saturday over Aklan, Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras and Negros Occidental. Strong to gale-force gusts were also expected across most of the Visayas, while coastal waters could become moderate to rough.
Kiyapo was not forecast to directly hit Western Visayas but was expected to intensify the southwest monsoon before leaving the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday morning.
RDRRMC chairperson and Office of Civil Defense regional director Raul Fernandez directed member agencies and local disaster councils to widely disseminate early warnings and submit reports on weather-related incidents.
As of 3 p.m. Thursday, July 23, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6 had P156,022,154.48 in standby funds and prepositioned relief supplies.
These included P3 million in standby funds and 174,651 family food packs — 33,210 stored at the regional warehouse in Oton, Iloilo, and 142,441 prepositioned across 71 local government units.
The agency also had 28,956 ready-to-eat food packs and 15,361 non-food items, including hygiene, kitchen and sleeping kits, tents and laminated sacks.
Ledesma warned that continued rainfall could further raise water levels in low-lying communities.
“If the rains continue, it is possible that flooding in the affected barangays will become more severe. That’s why we are continuously monitoring our barangays to determine where water levels are rising so we can immediately implement the necessary response measures if the weather further deteriorates,” she said.
Ledesma urged residents in coastal, low-lying and flood-prone communities to monitor official advisories and immediately report rising floodwaters.
“Everyone should remain alert and vigilant. Keep monitoring the advisories issued by our government agencies so you stay informed. For those living in coastal, low-lying, and flood-prone barangays, closely monitor the situation and immediately report to authorities if floodwaters continue to rise,” Ledesma said.
“If possible, do not wait for the water to rise further before evacuating. It’s much safer to leave early than to risk being trapped when conditions become worse,” she added./PN
