• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Damage to infrastructure and losses sustained by the agriculture sector in Negros Occidental following the onslaught of Typhoon Tino reached more than P382.3 million as of Nov. 7, initial assessment of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) showed.
Its report showed damage to infrastructure in La Castellana, Binalbagan, Don Salvador Benedicto, Bago City, and Sipalay City, including bridges and roads, school buildings, multi-purpose buildings, barangay halls, health centers, was estimated at P347.3 million.
The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist reported P28.534-million damage on commodities, including rice, corn and high-value crops, affecting 1,229 farmers.
These are those tilling almost 1,000 hectares of agricultural crops in 99 affected barangays of 13 local government units.
Rice sustained P24.85 million in damage while high-value crops saw P3.296 million worth of damage.
Corn recorded an initial damage of P387,682.
Fisheries posted P6.47 million worth of losses.
The Negros Occidental provincial government declared a state of calamity to ensure immediate response, relief, and rehabilitation efforts for those affected by Typhoon Tino.
Moises Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo, who met with Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Nov. 6, sought assistance for the town’s recovery and the emergency repair of the Taytay Intigiwan Bridge, a vital link connecting Moises Padilla to Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.
Yulo said the bridge sustained heavy damage during the typhoon, forcing authorities to limit passage to motorcycles and tricycles only due to safety concerns.
About 2,500 residents of Moises Padilla are still occupying the evacuation centers while the entire town remains without power and communication lines have only recently been restored in some areas of the town. | GB
