• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental has been placed under blue alert status as state weather bureau Pagasa placed the 22 local government units in the province under Signal No. 1 due to effects of Tropical Storm Kristine.
As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) reported 746 families, composed of 2,811 individuals, affected by flooding in six cities and municipalities of the province, of which 64 families, or 162 persons, moved to safer grounds, such as in evacuation centers.
Floods in 10 areas already subsided, and four landslide areas had already been cleared, according to the PDRRMC report.
Initial damage to rice and other high-value crops and corn was reported at P1.026 million, with 72 farmers affected, while damage to fisheries was placed at P575,930.
A total of 221 passengers and 122 rolling cargoes have been stranded in Bredco and Banago ports in Bacolod City as well as in the ports of San Carlos and Escalante, after the Philippine Coast Guard cancelled sea trips.
Signal No. 1 was in effect over Pontevedra, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Bago City, La Carlota City, Valladolid, Pulupandan, Bacolod City, San Enrique, Murcia, Silay City, Talisay City, E. B. Magalona, Manapla, Victorias City, Cadiz City, Sagay City, Escalante City, Toboso, Calatrava, Don Salvador Benedicto, and San Carlos City as of 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head Irene Bel Ploteña said that they are “continuously monitoring all flood and landslide-prone areas”.
Ploteña called on Negrenses to be vigilant in monitoring the weather disturbances.
Classes have remained suspended in almost all local government units in Negros Occidental as of Wednesday.
Also, classes have been suspended in the provinces of Negros Oriental and nearby Siquijor as ordered by Governors Manuel Sagarbarria and Jake Vincent Villa, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Coast Guard in both provinces also issued advisories on suspending all trips of fishing boats and other small crafts with 250 gross tonnage and below.
The weather bureau said that strong to gale-force winds brought about by Kristine is affecting the seaboard of the Visayas, including Samar, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Leyte, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Guimaras, Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Antique, Bohol, and Cebu.
In an advisory, the Negros Occidental PDRRMC said that the blue alert status is also in connection with the Alert Level 2 status of Kanlaon volcano.
Ploteña said that they have not yet received reports of lahar flow, especially in La Castellana areas. | GB
