The municipality of E.B. Magalona has joined the cities of Victorias, Talisay and Silay on the list of areas in northern Negros placed under a state of calamity, following the flashfloods on Jan. 1 and 8.
Mayor Marvin Malacon said the declaration was made by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Jan. 11, which was concurred by the Sangguniang Bayan the next day.
Damage to crops, fisheries and infrastructure in E.B. Magalona was placed at P9 million, with 13 barangays hit by the floods on Jan. 9, affecting 3,339 families, composed of 16,690 individuals.
Malacon expressed his appreciation to Third District Rep. Francisco Benitez, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Board Members Andrew Montelibano and Manuel Frederick Ko, Mayors Gerry Rojas of Murcia and Marxlen de la Cruz of Don Salvador Benedicto as well as the private sector for augmenting the relief goods distributed by the municipal government to the affected families.
He said that a third tranche of relief goods will soon be distributed as these are now being prepared by the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office.
He blamed the flashfloods on the heavily silted river mouths of Malogo, Imbang and Tabigue rivers and other town waterways, which will be declogged by a private firm starting this month.
The mayor also noted that the waterways in the town are even much lower in the residential areas, and the original drainage system in rural areas has already been planted with sugarcanes.
Malacon said that he will also ask the Sangguniang Bayan for the passage of an ordinance for the restoration of the original drainage system, and to request the Department of Public Works and Highways to repair the drainage system along the highway. – GB
