BACOLOD, Philippines – Squalls, rain, flooding continue to cause havoc in 15 localities of Negros Occidental and the capital, Bacolod.
As of Friday, October 25, a report from Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) said that the bad weather due to Tropical Storm Kristine since Monday had already affected 1,906 families or 6,797 individuals from 80 villages in 15 towns and cities in Negros Occidental.
These affected families are those from Bago City – 61, Cadiz City- 688, Sipalay City – 491, Sagay City – 75, Hinigaran-35, Hinoba-an-114, Silay City- 90, La Carlota City – 2, Cauayan – 140, Ilog – 18, Binalbagan- 13, Escalante City – 22, Isabela- 10, Pontevedra -98 and Valladolid- 49.
Of the total affected families, PDRRMC said, 951 or 3, 319 individuals remain at various evacuation centers as of Friday.
A total of seven houses were destroyed and 22 were also damaged in the province.
A whirlwind (buhawi/ipo-ipo) also hit Barangay Patag, Silay City Thursday noon damaging five houses, and uprooting banana plants and other trees.
Silay Mayor Joedith Gallego told Rappler on Friday that the eight families affected by the whirlwind were now temporarily staying at the covered court of the barangay and were being taken cared of by staff from the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) as to their immediate/basic needs and mental health due to traumatic experience.
Aside from Silay, whirlwinds also struck Thursday in Barangay Canturay, Sipalay; Barangay San Agustin, Isabela, and Purok Kasoy, Barangay Tabugon, Kabankalan, but only minimal damage had been reported.
The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) also reported to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson the damage to agriculture amid squalls, rain, and flooding due to Kristine.
OPA said damage to crops (rice, corn and vegetable) already reached P3,221,433, affecting 206 farmers while damage to fisheries (fish ponds) – P575,930 and livestock – P131,564.
A total of 23 localities in the province and Bacolod suspended classes on Friday.
Rotating brownouts due to toppled electrical poles and damaged power lines also irked Negrosanons and Bacolodnons.
Public advisories of three power distribution utilities in the province and Bacolod via social media , still, cannot parry the ranting consumers that went berserk on Facebook since Tuesday to date.
Strong winds and waves also battered five houses in Purok Nami-Nami, Barangay Banago, leaving the affected families homeless.
Jose Evram Vera, city disaster risk reduction officer, told Rappler Friday that Bacolod now has a total of 51 family evacuees with 191 individuals from Barangays Banago and Cabug.
Sea trips Bacolod-Iloilo-Bacolod by fast crafts and roro (roll-on/roll-off) vessels already resumed on Friday, a report from the Coast Guard Negros Occidental Station said. – Rappler.com