Iloilo: Coastal communities in the southern portions of Panay are advised to preemptively evacuate ahead of the forecast impact of Tropical Storm Basyang (international name Penha). Civil Defense Regional Director and chair of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) Raul Fernandez made the call during the virtual update on the storm on Thursday, as he urged residents to remain vigilant. 'Let us all expect for the worst and prepare accordingly,' he said, as Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 was hoisted over Guimaras, Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, and Antique.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) expects the tropical storm to pass Panay on Friday evening until early Saturday morning. Fernandez highlighted the critical timing of the storm's passage due to limited visibility and advised local DRRM councils to prepare generator sets in case of power interruptions, as well as fuel and relief goods.
Rolly Cuenca from the PAGASA Iloilo Radar Station noted that Basyang is expected to be at the tip of Negros Occidental by Friday evening. Forecasts indicate that all coastal areas in southern Iloilo and Antique are at risk of storm surge and strong waves brought by Basyang if it remains a tropical storm.
Data from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau revealed that 630 barangays from 38 local government units in Panay are susceptible to rain-induced landslides and flooding. Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Western Visayas (DSWD-6) reported that the Predictive Analytics for Humanitarian Response (PAHR), based on the PAGASA Global Spectral Model and Weather Research Forecasting initiated at 2 a.m. Thursday, showed that 26 local government units are expected to receive 100 mm to 150 mm of rain over the next 72 hours.
The affected areas include Ibajay, Kalibo, Lezo, Makato, Malinao, New Washington, Numancia, and Tangalan in Aklan; Anini-y, Belison, Hamtic, Pandan, Patnongon, San Jose, San Remigio, Sebaste, Sibalom, Tobias Fornier, and Valderrama in Antique; Guimbal, Igbaras, Miagao, San Joaquin, and Tigbauan in Iloilo; and Nueva Valencia and Sibunag in Guimaras. The DSWD estimates that potentially affected families could reach up to 93,011, equating to 465,077 individuals.
The DSWD also reported that as of Feb. 2, 132,635 family food packs are prepositioned in 69 strategic locations across Western Visayas, including in its regional warehouse in Oton, Iloilo. Additionally, it has 23,419 ready-to-eat food items positioned in various ports in Iloilo, Aklan, and Antique; 14,877 non-food items; and a standby fund amounting to PHP3 million for immediate utilization.
