Tropical Storm Basyang made landfall in Surigao del Sur on Thursday night, February 5, 2026, leading to widespread suspensions of classes, work, and transportation across the southern and central Philippines. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the storm reached land with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts reaching up to 100 kph. [1] As of 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, the center of the storm was tracked 115 km east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, moving at a speed of 20 kph in a west-northwestward direction. [2]
Educational activities were severely disrupted across several regions, with the city government of Davao ordering a suspension of classes at all levels in both public and private institutions from February 5 to February 6. [3] In Western Visayas, the cancellation of face-to-face classes affected approximately 96,000 learners as authorities braced for heavy rains. Other areas that implemented class cancellations included the Caraga region, Iligan City, and several municipalities in Bukidnon. [4] Mayor Frederick Siao of Iligan City encouraged schools to adopt modular or asynchronous learning to maintain academic progress during the storm.
Government operations and private sector work were also halted in multiple provinces to ensure public safety. Work in government offices throughout Negros Occidental and Bacolod City was suspended on Friday, February 6, due to the storm's approach. [1][5] In Tandag City, Mayor Roxanne Pimentel issued Executive Order 06-01, which suspended work in public and private establishments while exempting essential health and disaster response services. Similar work suspensions were declared in Butuan City and Agusan del Norte.
The storm caused significant travel delays, stranding thousands of individuals at maritime terminals. [1][5] [1] The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that 3,865 passengers were stranded across 39 ports nationwide by Thursday morning. In the Western Visayas region, at least 790 travelers were stuck in ports located in Aklan, Capiz, Antique, and Iloilo. Additionally, Lipata Port in Surigao City recorded 357 stranded passengers and 161 rolling cargoes outside the port gates. [4]
Local authorities initiated emergency measures, including forced and pre-emptive evacuations in high-risk communities. [1][5] The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 6 issued an urgent memorandum for the evacuation of residents in flood-prone areas of southern Iloilo and southern Antique. [1][2][5] Mayor Pimentel of Tandag City also ordered residents in coastal and landslide-prone areas to evacuate under Executive Order 06-02. PAGASA maintained Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 for Surigao del Sur and neighboring provinces as the storm moved toward Negros Oriental. [1][5]