• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Mayor Greg Gasataya announced the cancellation of classes at all levels, both in public and private schools in Bacolod City, today, July 18, following a heavy rainfall warning from Pagasa.
“Private schools with asynchronous and online classes may continue at the discretion of their school administration,” Gasataya said in an advisory last night.
The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, meanwhile, said July 17 that, in collaboration with the Department of Social Services and Development and the City Planning and Development Office, it has generated detailed incident maps to assess the extent of flooding in Bacolod, especially in barangays Banago, Bata, and Mandalagan, July 11 and 12.
“Using the Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, these maps will serve as crucial tools for risk-informed planning and decision-making in future flood mitigation and response efforts,” it added.
Some 1,050 food packs, on the other hand, were distributed to flood-affected families in Barangay Bata July 17, the largest single relief distribution since torrential rains caused flooding last Friday, per DSWD project development officer II Ryan Cezar, the city said in a press release.
The citywide relief operation targets 15 affected barangays with 4,419 food packs allocated for distribution, it added. The release of assistance will continue today in barangays Mandalagan, Singcang-Airport, and Villamonte.
The DSWD Disaster Response Management Division-Negros Island Region also said it distributed family food packs (FFPs) to 1,170 families affected by flooding brought about by the southwest monsoon, or habagat, in barangays 10, 12, Alijis, and Banago.
The agency remained on high alert as it continues to provide relief assistance to families affected by heavy rains and flashfloods brought about by habagat and Tropical Depression Crising.
It said that P1,890,880 worth of FFPs were distributed in Bacolod, and P1,691,840 in Talisay City. To ensure readiness for further response, the DSWD6 has maintained a standby stockpile and available resources, amounting to P157 million, it added. | CGC
