• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
More than 3,000 families displaced by the enhanced southwest monsoon in Negros Occidental are currently being discouraged from returning to their homes by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.
This caution is due to the possibility of ongoing heavy rains and floods.
In a press conference at the PAGASA headquarters in Quezon City on Monday, Administrator Nathaniel Servando reported that Negros Occidental will expect heavy to intense rains on Tuesday, Sept. 17, as Tropical Depression Gener, which also enhanced the southwest monsoon, is expected to make a landfall in central and northern Luzon.
Tropical Storm Pulasan may also enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) late Tuesday, according to the state weather bureau.
As of 7 p.m. Monday, the PDRRMC reported that there are 3,080 families, composed of 10,509, persons staying the evacuation centers, and 134 families, comprising 496 persons, outside of the evacuation centers.
PDRRMC officer Irene Bel Ploteña reported that a minor was missing in Sipalay City.
On the other hand, seven houses were destroyed, while 87 others had been partially damaged in the province.
Initial damage to rice, corn and high value crops pegged at P15,755,845.86 in 54 barangays of Negros Occidental, losses in fisheries were placed at P398,112, and P493,328.91 in livestocks, Ploteña added.
Across the province, there were 23,247 families or 72,297 persons affected in 130 barangays of 20 local government units (LGUs), according to PDRRMC.
Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Chiqui Gonzales reported that they have augmented the 1,960 food packs in Binalbagan, Sipalay, Pontevedra, La Castellana, San Enrique and La Carlota City.
Gonzales said they will also send food packs to Isabela and Sipalay City to be distributed to evacuees, who are still in evacuation centers, waiting for the flood water to go down in their residences.
She added that they will replenish the supply of food packs in preparation of the coming Low Pressure Area (LPA) into the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) which will come from the DSWD regional office.
Under the shelter assistance program of the provincial government, Gonzales said owners of destroyed houses are expected to receive P10,000 each, and P5,000 for those homes partially damaged. | GB
