• GILBERT P. BAYORAN

The municipality of San Enrique in Negros Occidental has been placed under a state of calamity, Mayor Jilson Tubillara disclosed yesterday.
The declaration of a state of calamity was recommended by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council and approved by the Sangguniang Bayan during its regular session yesterday.
Tubillara said that 9,000 families, composed of 28,000 persons, were affected by the heavy rains and flooding in San Enrique.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Risk Management Council (PDRRMC) reported an increase in the number of displaced families to 3,941, with 3,287 staying in evacuation centers, and 654 families staying outside of the evacuation centers.
PDRRMC also reported one casualty, while a minor is feared to have drowned in Sipalay City and remains missing.
On the other hand, nine houses were destroyed, while 121 others were partially damaged in the province.
Damage to crops, livestocks, and fisheries was reported by the PDRRMC to be valued at P20,489,984.
Initial damage to rice, corn and high value crops was pegged at P19,365,902.74 in 60 barangays of Negros Occidental, while losses to fisheries was placed at P424,362, and for livestock, P699,720, according to Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer Irene Bel Ploteña.
Ploteña discouraged displaced families, who have been staying in evacuation centers since Thursday last week, from returning to their respective homes, due to continuing heavy rains and floods.
According to PDRRMC, across the province, there were 27,421 families or 91,046 persons affected, in 153 barangays of 23 LGUs.*