• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Mayor Rene Gustilo yesterday declared as “passable” the two lanes of the highway at Upper Caticlan in Brgy. Rizal, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, which was recently hit by a rockslide and landslide as a result of heavy rains due to bad weather.
Gustilo said that they are now assessing the equipment which are well suited for disaster emergency response, as he hinted at the purchase of such, for quicker recovery efforts.
The City Engineering Office of San Carlos City was augmented by the Department of Public Works in clearing the landslide affected areas.
Gustilo, who returned to the landslide area on January 16 to inspect the clearing operations, thanked “all the brave men who worked overtime to ensure the safety of our people.”
Prior to the road reopening, the City Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Office deployed vehicles to transport stranded individuals, to ensure their safety.
More than 15,000 individuals were affected by the floods brought by heavy rains due to a low pressure area and the shearline in Negros Occidental.
Flood incidents were reported in the cities of Cadiz, Sagay, Bago, Talisay and in the municipalities of Cauayan, Candoni, Ilog, San Enrique, and Valladolid.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has placed damage to rice at P5 million.*
