- GILBERT BAYORAN
Local government units in Negros Occidental that were affected by Tropical Storm Paeng may now use their respective calamity funds, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Thursday, Nov. 3.
The storm left an estimated P256.8 million in damage to agriculture, fisheries and irrigation facilities in the province.
Western Visayas, composed of the provinces of Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Capiz, Antique, Aklan and Guimaras, has been placed under a state of calamity for six months, along with Calabarzon, Bicol, and the BARMM, by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“We just have to comply with the mandate of the President declaring the whole Region 6 under a state of calamity,” said Lacson.
Based on the report submitted to the governor by Provincial Agriculturist Edmundo Raul Causing, rice production in the province was worst hit with P187,482,232.35 in damage; high-value crops at P2,985,810; corn, P1,641,324; fisheries, P14,698,510; and irrigation, P50,000 in damage.
Thirty of the 31 LGUs in Negros Occidental, excluding the highly-urbanized Bacolod City, were affected by the trough of TS Paeng.
Partial reports from various LGUs showed that 107 houses were destroyed, while 936 others damaged in Negros Occidental, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Merle Garcia said, adding that they will still validated these figures./GB
