Negros Occidental LGUs Declare Class Suspensions Amid Tropical Cyclone Basyang
Several local government units (LGUs) across Negros Occidental province, including Bacolod City, have officially announced the suspension of classes on Thursday, February 5, 2026. This decisive action comes in response to the impending threat posed by Tropical Cyclone "Basyang," which has prompted weather warnings and emergency preparations throughout the region.
Affected Cities and Municipalities
The class suspensions extend to a wide array of urban and rural areas within Negros Occidental. The impacted cities include San Carlos, Bago, Himamaylan, Cadiz, Silay, Talisay, and La Carlota. Additionally, numerous towns have joined the precautionary measure, such as E.B. Magalona, Pontevedra, Hinigaran, Isabela, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Cauayan, Pulupandan, and Manapla. Notably, some of these LGUs have opted to extend the suspension through Friday, February 6, 2026, to ensure student safety as weather conditions are monitored.
Bacolod City's Executive Order and Emergency Measures
In Bacolod City, Mayor Greg Gasataya took formal steps by issuing Executive Order 4, series 2026. This order mandates the suspension of classes at all levels in both public and private schools on February 5. The decision was made following recommendations from the Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (BDRRMC) and with the concurrence of the Department of Education (DepEd). It is directly linked to the Yellow Heavy Rainfall Warning issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) for Bacolod City due to Basyang.
Mayor Gasataya emphasized that schools are encouraged to transition to modular distance learning, performance tasks, and projects. This approach aims to maintain educational continuity and ensure that learning competencies are met despite the disruption. Furthermore, the Bacolod Emergency Operations Center has been elevated to a red alert status. This heightened level ensures enhanced monitoring, rapid response capabilities, and coordinated action among all concerned agencies to address any emergencies arising from the tropical cyclone.
Provincial and Additional Municipal Actions
On a broader scale, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson announced on Wednesday that the alert status at the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been raised to red alert. This status is effective from 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, and will remain until weather conditions show significant improvement.
Governor Lacson detailed that all provincial response clusters have been activated to bolster preparedness. These clusters encompass critical areas such as camp coordination and camp management, food and non-food item distribution, logistics, search, rescue, and retrieval operations, health services, law and order maintenance, clearing and civil works, and education support. For preemptive evacuation measures, the governor clarified that the decision now rests with the individual LGUs, allowing them to assess local conditions and needs.
In a related move, Calatrava Mayor Marilyn Era has also ordered the suspension of classes, specifically for February 6 and February 9, 2026, indicating ongoing vigilance as Basyang's impact unfolds. These collective efforts underscore the proactive stance of Negros Occidental's leadership in safeguarding communities against the adverse effects of Tropical Cyclone Basyang.
