Relief packs were distributed to residents affected by heavy rains and flooding, caused by habagat and Typhoon Crising, in the cities of Bacolod and Bago over the weekend.
In Bacolod, the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office distributed 65 relief packs to families in evacuation centers July 19.
The aid followed Mayor Greg Gasataya’s directive to preemptively evacuate 192 residents from barangays 27, Cabug, and Villamonte Friday night, due to heavy rains and flooding.
Four houses in Barangay Granada were also damaged, prompting additional evacuation, the city said, adding that barangay emergency responders relocated the affected families to schools and multi-purpose halls.
DSSD head Richelle Verdeprado-Mangga said the relief packs included donations gathered by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
“We wanted to ensure that families have provisions before returning home,” she said in a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office July 19, adding that they will request for additional food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Negros Island Region for distribution this week.
In Bago, 56 families in Barangay Dulao received food packs from the city government, led by Mayor Mayette Javellana-Yao July 20.
Of the number, 48 families, composed of 169 individuals from Purok Ma. Elena, were evacuated at the Day Care Center and AM Espinos Elementary School. The remaining 26 individuals belonging to eight families are from Purok Reola, per the City Social Welfare and Development Office.
Javellana-Yao and other city officials also led in the distribution of food packs to 96 households in Purok San Nicolas, Barangay Sagasa, July 19.
These residents, who were trapped due to flooding brought about by the southwest monsoon enhanced by “Crising”, received family food packs from the DSWD-NIR.
As of noon July 20, there were 428 families, or 1,634 individuals, affected by the inclement weather in Bago, mostly from barangays Ma-ao, Tabunan, Sagasa, Mailum, and Balingasag, the city said. ||
