• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental will remain in blue alert status, starting from December 30 to January 2 next year, because of the effects of the shear line and monitoring of the Oplan Iwas Paputok during the New Year celebrations, acting Governor Jeffrey Ferrer said yesterday in an issued memorandum.
Ferrer advised all agencies, offices as well as the City and Municipal Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Offices to continue monitoring and send preparedness measures reports, and well as provide updates on any untoward incidents in their respective areas.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Western Visayas is also closely monitoring the Low Pressure Area affecting the region and keeping an eye on 153 barangays vulnerable to flooding and landslides.
OCD information officer Cindy Ferrer said that the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council are currently on blue alert for the holiday season and to monitor the possible impact of the weather system.
“We have 153 barangays that are prone to flooding and landslide, unlike in the previous LPA when we have not recorded any barangay that was susceptible to flood and landslide,” Ferrer added.
She also reminded travelers of possible cancellation of trips and getting stranded as a gale warning was hoisted over Western Visayas.
The presence of LPA followed the effects of shear line in the region where around 229 families or 868 individuals from Negros Occidental and Aklan were affected by flooding and strong winds, according to a report of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Western Visayas.
The DSWD WV reported that 60 families were displaced after their houses were badly damaged by coastal flooding but opted to stay with their relatives and friends, as of Dec. 27.
Aside from those displaced, the remaining residents did not evacuate since the flooding has subsided, but since they are in coastal areas their livelihood was affected, since most of them are fisherfolk, disclosed DWSD 6 information officer May R. Castillo.
The coastal flooding left 26 houses destroyed and 34 partially damaged.
The same report showed that 212 affected families were from three barangays in Aklan and 17 from five barangays in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental. All affected families in Negros Occidental were displaced.* with report from PNA
