• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The municipality of San Enrique, Negros Occidental, has been placed under state of calamity, after being badly hit by flashfloods from overflowing waterways, which also coincided with high tide.
The Provincial Social Welfare Development Office (PSWDO) reported that 5,579 families composed of 19,594 persons, were affected in nine of the 10 barangays of San Enrique, which were affected by flashfloods.
At the same time, 16 houses were destroyed, while 426 others partially damaged, the PSWDO report added.
It was the first time in recent years that San Enrique was hit by the flashflood, and Mayor Jilson Tubillara said the flooding subsided after a few hours because they had already cleared the waterways in the town, through their river protection project.
Tubillara said the flashfloods that hit San Enrique originated from Murcia, La Carlota and portion of Bago City.
The declaration of state of calamity was made Wednesday last week.
He estimates the damage to agricultural products at P10 million, as most rice fields had already been harvested.
Food assistance was also immediately distributed to affected residents by the municipal government, through its Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office.
The owners of houses confirmed to be damaged or destroyed will be given assistance by the MSWDO, Tubillara said.
All over the province, the PSWDO reported 60 houses destroyed, while 1,585 others were partially damaged, in 112 barangays of 20 affected local government units in Negros Occidental.*
