• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Office of Civil Defense-Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) remains on red alert status due to Kanlaon Volcano response while the Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental Command Centers are placed on blue alert status due to the continuing effects of southwest monsoon, its regional director Donato Sermeno III said.
As recommended by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, work in government offices and classes are suspended today (July 23), according to a memorandum issued by Malacañang.
However, agencies responsible for basic, vital and health services, and preparedness and response duties must continue to remain operational to ensure continuity of essential government functions, it added.
While flooding already subsided in the affected local government units, mostly in central and southern Negros Occidental, Sermeno said they are anticipating more rains because of the continuing southwest monsoon.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that Negros Occidental will experience moderate to heavy rains on Wednesday.
PAGASA is closely monitoring two low pressure areas within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and another one, which is still outside of the PAR.
Due to the forecasted impact of heavy rains and flooding, Cebu Pacific cancelled its Manila-Bacolod-Manila flights on Tuesday.
OCD-NIR records showed there are still 1,280 families, composed of 4,156 persons, occupying 16 evacuation centers in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, and Canlaon City, Negros Oriental.
Of the evacuees, 466 families, composed of 1,063 persons, are staying in six evacuation centers of La Castellana.
Municipal public information officer Remuel Lajo said two houses were destroyed while seven others were partially damaged due to debris, which originated from Kanlaon Volcano, that flowed into the Tamburong Creek in Barangay Biak-na-Bato.
The Negros Occidental provincial government delivered food supplies to its community kitchens in La Castellana town and cities of La Carlota and Bago starting Monday.
The sixth wave of the community kitchens will serve about 2,000 internally displaced persons occupying the evacuation centers in the three local government units. | GB
