• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Tropical Cyclone Kristine left behind a trail of destruction in Negros Occidental, with an initial P3.92 million in damage to crops and fisheries.
Damage to rice, corn and high-value crops reached P3.221 million, affecting 206 farmers planting in 152.82 hectares.
The fisheries sector reported initial damage of P575,930 while livestock raisers incurred P131,564 in damage.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said that farmers whose crops were damaged by flash floods, especially those enrolled in crop insurance program, may avail of financial assistance.
Despite the lifting of typhoon signal warning in Negros Occidental on Thursday by the state weather bureau Pagasa, the Philippine Coast Guard has not yet lifted the cancellation of trips from Bredco port in Bacolod City to Iloilo as well as from Cadiz City in Negros Occidental to Bantayan Island in Cebu due to inclement weather.
Two flights of Cebu Pacific from Manila to Bacolod and vice versa were also suspended on Thursday.
The Cebu Port Authority though issued a statement that Lite Ferry 1 already resumed its trips from Toledo port in Cebu to San Carlos City port in Negros Occidental.
Negros Occidental remains under blue alert status due to strong gale force winds.
Flooding in 10 areas of Sipalay, Bago, Cadiz and Sagay cities have already subsided while landslide areas in Barangay Nabulao, Sipalay City have already been cleared.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council also reported 29 damaged houses, of which seven had been destroyed, in Negros Occidental. | GB
