- Negros Now Daily News Team
Negros Occidental and the highly-urbanized Bacolod City have been placed under a state of calamity Nov. 6 due to widespread devastation wrought by Typhoon Tino, with 49 deaths logged in the province.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod approved the request of Mayor Greg Gasataya to declare Bacolod under a state of calamity, which the mayor said will “help freeze the prices of commodities, hasten our recovery efforts, and maximize the resources of the government in providing aid to those devastated by Tino.”
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan also approved the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council for a state of calamity, as the number of fatalities climbed to 49, with 52 others still missing.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said that “Tino” also affected 39,102 families, composed of 134,718 individuals, in 375 barangays in 31 towns and cities of Negros Occidental.
The cities of Himamaylan and La Carlota, and La Castellana and Toboso towns in Negros Occidental were also declared under a state of calamity.
With the declaration, Lacson said there will be price freeze on basic necessities and prime commodities, to prevent hoarding and overpricing.
The worst-hit areas, Lacson said, are the local government units in the 4th and 5th districts of Negros Occidental, because of heavy flooding, all the way from Canlaon City in Negros Oriental down to Binalbagan.
Canlaon City was hit with muddy water, which carried away boulders from Kanlaon Volcano.
“It was something that was unexpected,” Lacson said, noting that floodwater rose very fast, and “many persons were stranded, even inside their vehicles, since the current was very strong.”
Donato Sermeno, Office of Civil Defense director for Negros Island Region, in a press briefing, reported that 14,989, composed of 52,377 individuals, are in 645 evacuation centers all over NIR.
Sermeno said power restoration and communication connectivity may take time to restore in some affected areas, due to toppled electric power lines.
He also reported that four footbridges along Binalbagan River were destroyed by strong winds.
OCD-NIR reported that 1,717 houses were destroyed, and 9,489 others damaged.
Sermeno said he already requested the Department of Information and Communications Technology to install Starlink and generator sets in affected LGUs, and to prioritize La Castellana, Murcia, and Isabela towns, which were severely affected by Tino.
The provincial government sent out 12 trucks to distribute food packs, as well as water tankers to affected LGUs.
In Bacolod, Gasataya stressed the need for a price freeze, hence the request for a state of calamity declaration. “We also understand the situation of our barangays, whose funds have been depleted and can no longer sustain the needs of evacuees and affected families.”
Councilor Dindo Ramos said in a city press release that the declaration will allow barangays to immediately use 30 percent of the Quick Response Fund (QRF) from their respective five-percent calamity fund. The local government can also access its 30 percent QRF of the five-percent calamity fund and trust fund to speed up relief and recovery efforts.
Councilor Caesar Distrito, who presided over the special session, added that the city can now extend financial assistance to families displaced by “Tino”.
He described the typhoon as “unprecedented”, and recounted how a storm surge at the height of “Tino” wiped out several houses on stilts along the coastline of Singcang-Airport, where he was the former punong barangay. “This was the most devastating storm in the past decade.”
The city’s Emergency Operations Center said that 266 houses were destroyed and 2,028 damaged, mostly due to storm surges in coastal areas, as well as strong winds and fallen trees when “Tino” pummeled Bacolod and nearby areas morning of Nov. 3.
But Bacolod logged zero casualties due to the typhoon after 7,895 families, or 27,401 individuals living in vulnerable areas, went on preemptive evacuation, per records from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Gasataya had thanked all frontliners, barangay officials, and partner-agencies for their coordinated and preemptive measures. “We really thank everyone who heeded the call for preemptive evacuation. In my assessment, we really saved a lot of lives.”
The DRRMO, BENRO, BFP, CEO, BCPO, the 303rd Infantry Brigade, and private rescue groups also continue the massive clearing operations across major roads and barangays of the highly-urbanized city.
Gasataya said more than 48 of 244 affected areas have been cleared, so far, allowing the Negros Electric Power Corporation to continue power restoration efforts and repair of 65 toppled poles. “NEPC has assured full restoration of electricity by Friday, Nov. 7.”
He also urged the Baciwa-PrimeWater to intensify efforts to stabilize the water supply, and called on telecommunication companies to ensure reliable network connections throughout Bacolod.
Department of Social Services and Development head Richelle Verdeprado-Mangga, meanwhile, said the city is preparing long-term support for displaced families. “We are also considering those who were affected outside evacuation centers and need immediate recovery assistance.”/CGC, GPB
