Cebu island feels brunt of ‘Crising’, ‘habagat’

Local

RAINS did not just wash out classes—they stalled sea travel, and put tourism on pause.

As rains caused by Tropical Depression ‘Crising’ and enhanced by ‘habagat’ continued to lash Cebu for the third straight day, at least 43 local government units (LGUs) under the Cebu Provincial Government suspended classes on Friday, July 18, 2025.

The precautionary measures extended beyond schools, disrupting sea travel and prompting the closure of popular tourist sites.

A situation report released by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) as of 8 a.m. Friday confirmed widespread class suspensions, either in full or partial, across the province.

This comes on top of separate declarations from Cebu City, Mandaue City, and Lapu-Lapu City, three highly urbanized cities not administratively under the province, which also called off classes due to adverse weather conditions.

The suspensions were issued as continuous rains drenched many parts of Cebu, heightening concerns about flooding, landslides, and travel hazards.

Though Cebu lies outside the direct path of Crising, the tropical depression continues to intensify and is forecast to reach severe tropical storm status by Saturday. The enhanced southwest monsoon is expected to bring intermittent to heavy rainfall, particularly over the western and central Visayas.

No classes

In southern and midwestern Cebu, component cities like Carcar, Danao, and Toledo suspended classes at all levels.

These were joined by 39 municipalities, including Alcantara, Alegria, Alcoy, Aloguinsan, Asturias, and Badian, which also declared full-day suspensions. Other LGUs opted for partial suspension, such as Dumanjug and Ginatilan, which called off afternoon classes. In Sibonga, the suspension covered only public schools.

On Sta. Fe’s Hilantagaan Island, classes were suspended due to sea travel constraints for teachers, though the town proper did not announce a full suspension.

PDRRMO noted that some LGUs declared class suspensions through social media as early as Thursday night.

Meanwhile, highly urbanized cities, including Cebu City announced the suspension of classes at all levels early Friday morning, following similar announcements by Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City.

The latter’s order applied only to public schools. Although these cities operate independently from the Cebu Provincial Government, they coordinated with their local disaster offices in issuing the advisories.

On Thursday morning, Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival held a meeting with the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to prepare for the effects of the weather disturbance.

Sea travel across the region was also disrupted.

The Coast Guard District-Central Visayas (CGD-7) issued travel advisories suspending trips for smaller vessels in four areas: Western Bohol, Northern Cebu, Eastern Bohol, and the Camotes Islands.

In Western and Eastern Bohol and the Camotes area, vessels 15 gross tons and below were barred from sailing, while in Northern Cebu, the restriction applied to vessels 35 GT and below.

The Coast Guard based its suspension on Pagasa’s regular weather bulletins, citing rough sea conditions and strong winds.

The CGD-7 said it has coordinated with local government units and shipping companies to ensure compliance, and monitoring teams have been deployed. Violators face penalties.

Tourism activities were likewise affected. In Badian, officials temporarily closed Kawasan Falls and suspended all canyoneering activities as river levels continued to rise due to relentless rainfall.

The Cebu Provincial Government remains on heightened alert, especially in flood- and landslide-prone areas. Governor Pamela Baricuatro earlier ordered all Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (LDRRMOs) to activate emergency protocols and deliver real-time updates to the province’s command center.

PDRRMO chief Dennis Francis Pastor said the agency is closely coordinating with all LDRRMOs to receive reports from affected areas and provide necessary support.

Emergency response teams have been inspecting hazard zones, monitoring river systems, and preparing relief goods for deployment.

Situation reports are being issued every two hours to the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, the Office of the Governor, and other key agencies.

According to Pagasa’s bulletin at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 18, Crising was moving northwest toward mainland Cagayan and the Babuyan Islands, with a projected landfall by Friday evening.

It is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Saturday afternoon, July 19.

However, the combined effects of Crising and the southwest monsoon are expected to continue bringing moderate to heavy rains to Northern and Central Luzon, as well as parts of the Visayas.

On Wednesday, a landslide in Sitio Quadra, Barangay Lagtang, Talisay City damaged a residential house and displaced five individuals.

While no one was injured, the incident prompted the evacuation of residents, who are now staying with relatives.(MyTVCebu)