- MITCH M. LIPA
Areas in northern Negros, which were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 from Feb. 20 to 22 due to Tropical Storm and later Tropical Depression Auring, were spared of the projected heavy rainfall because of the changes in the course of the storm that moved upward to Bicol Region.
Zeaphard Caelian, head of the Provincial Disaster Management Program Division of Negros Occidental, said he is thankful for the cooperation of every local government unit for the pre-emptive evacuation in their respective areas and the zero casualty.
The PAGASA weather bureau lifted the storm signal in the province at noon of February 22. Trips for all types of seacraft also resumed at the different Negros ports on the same day.
Continuous light to moderate rains, morning of Feb 22, prompted Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices to effect pre-emptive evacuation of, at least 870 families from seven local government units.
The affected families temporarily took shelter to the nearest evacuation centers as part of pro-active move of local government units.
San Carlos City had the most number of evacuated families at 356 or, 1,252 individuals from Barangay Rizal, Barangay 1 and Barangay 5.
They were evacuated Sunday evening, Feb. 21, during the onset of heavy rains.
Sagay City has a total of 183 evacuee-families or 639 individuals from Barangays Taba-ao, Himogaan Baybay and Barangay Old Sagay.
They temporarily stayed at the barangay hall and Day Care Center.
Talisay has 145 families or 621 individuals from six barangays, City Social Welfare Development Office Head Dionela Madrona said.
The evacuees were residents of Barangays Zone 11, 2, 10, 14-B, 16 and E. Lizares.
Hot meals were provided to the evacuees, particularly senior citizens, women and children.
Also evacuated were some 106 families from Barangays Malasibog, Magsaysay, Jonob-jonob and Libertad in Escalante City; Toboso, 66 families with 238 individuals from Barangays Tabun-ac, Salamanca and San Jose; Victorias and Silay cities, seven families.
The evacuation was conducted only by their barangay disaster management team.
Almost 90 percent of the LGUs in the province was placed under Storm Signal No. 1 Sunday.
Caelian added that the Bago City Agriculture Office reported a P5.3 million worth of farm losses. – MML
