• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
As displaced Negrenses affected by the southwest monsoon or Habagat have left evacuation centers and started returning home, the bodies of a minor and two other victims of drowning were separately found on Sunday, in Binalbagan and Sagay City, Negros Occidental.
The cadavers of a 12-year-old boy, and Medjun Cordero were recovered in the barangays of Payao and Santol, respectively, in Binalbagan, according to local disaster authorities.
Glen Trejeros, a 30-year-old fisherman, who was reported missing on July 16, was found dead by two fishermen near Panal Reef, which is inside the Sagay Marine Reserve in Sagay City.
In a report dated July 20, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Council reported that 139 barangays in 18 towns and cities of Negros Occidental experienced flooding, affecting 18,918 families, composed of 31,445 individuals, of which about 5,570 families sought temporary shelter in various evacuation centers, and over 5,000 stayed with relatives.
However, the majority of those in evacuation centers already went home, as the floods subsided in their areas.
A state of calamity is set to be declared by the municipal governments of Kabankalan City and Binalbagan.
Binalbagan logged 9,671 families affected by flooding in 13 barangays, while 1,454 families experienced flooding in Kabankalan City, PDRRMC records showed.
Agricultural crops losses in Sipalay City were estimated at P1,332,657, livestock losses in Binalbagan, Isabela, Ilog, and Kabankalan City at P361,303, while damage to two hanging bridges in Isabela was pegged at P1 million, it added.
The floods destroyed 14 houses and damaged 121 others.
As of Sunday, the value of agricultural crops losses in Isabela, Negros Occidental, was reported by its Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, at P8,653,837.
Mayor Miguel Angelo Yulo yesterday said that Isabeleños affected by the flooding in Isabela, may now return to their respective homes, as conditions have stabilized and are deemed safe.
Governor Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria ordered the resumption of classes in Negros Oriental on July 21.
A similar order was issued by Mayor Anejo Nicor for the resumption of classes in La Castellana, Negros Occidental.
The Negros Occidental provincial government, through its Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, distributed food packs and water to the victims in flood-affected local government units, since July 19.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development Negros Island Region (DSWD-NIR) also conducted simultaneous relief efforts in response to the effects Tropical Storm Crising, by facilitated the distribution of Family Food Packs (FFPs) to 945 families in Sipalay City, 76 affected families in Brgy. 1 poblacion, Ilog, and 10 families in Barangays San Miguel and Yubo in La Carlota City.
BACOLOD CITY
The Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD)-Bacolod and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) distributed 65 relief packs to families in evacuation centers on Saturday, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office said.
The aid followed Mayor Greg Gasataya’s directive to preemptively evacuate 192 residents from Barangays Cabug, 27, and Villamonte on Friday night due to heavy rains and flooding caused by Typhoon Crising. Four houses in Barangay Granada were partially damaged, prompting additional evacuations. Barangay emergency responders relocated affected families to schools and multi-purpose halls.
DSSD-Bacolod head Richelle Verdeprado-Mangga confirmed the relief packs – now totaling 65—included donations gathered by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
“We wanted to ensure families have provisions before returning home,” she said.
Mangga added that the DSSD, through the Office of the City Mayor, will request additional food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development – Negros Island Region (DSWD-NIR) for distribution this week.*
