BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Talisay City in Negros Occidental is now under a state of calamity due to extensive damage brought about by the flashfloods that affected 4,661 families in 17 barangays.
The Talisay Sangguniang Panlungsod approved yesterday the recommendation of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to place the city under a state of calamity so the local government unit can use its disaster funds to help the affected families.
Damage to crops and fisheries during the recent flashfloods in Talisay, and in Silay, Victorias, and EB Magalona was placed at more than P16 million, as of yesterday.
The Talisay City DRRMO reported that 21 houses were destroyed, while 244 others were damaged by the flashfloods.
The giving of financial aid to owners of houses, either destroyed or damaged, in Talisay is also being considered by the city government, and was discussed during the CDRRM Council meeting on Jan. 4 that was presided over by Mayor Neil Lizares.
Lizares also ordered the City Engineering Office to assess the infrastructure damage, and assist in the rehabilitation plan. The CDRRM Council also recommended medium to long term solutions to mitigate the flooding problem, such as the dredging of two major river systems and waterways in Talisay, inventory of informal settlers residing under bridges, granting of livelihood projects to affected families, and revisiting of the city drainage plans.*