- CHERYL G. CRUZ
All activities for the 33rd Pintaflores Festival of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, have been postponed until further notice, following the effects of Typhoon Tino.
“We remain committed to prioritizing disaster response and early recovery efforts after the recent typhoon. As we focus on these important efforts, all activities related to the Pintaflores Festival will be postponed to later dates,” Mayor Renato Gustilo said in a statement Nov. 5. “At this time, our priority is the safety and recovery of our people.”
The mayor said the city government will continue to reach out and extend help to residents affected by the typhoon.
The 33rd Pintaflores Festival of San Carlos City in Negros Occidental have been postponed until further notice.
As of 11 a.m. Nov. 5, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said that 998 families, composed of 3,630 individuals, have been affected by Tino in nine barangays of San Carlos.
Three typhoon fatalities were also logged in the city, the PDRRRO said.
“Ongoing risk assessments and early recovery efforts are being conducted to ensure the safety of everyone,” the city said in a post. “The public is advised to be vigilant against another potential super-typhoon expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility.”
Gustilo said he visited Nov. 5 several upland barangays, including Quezon, Prosperidad, and Codcod, to assess the damage and determine what assistance to extend to those affected by the recent calamity. “Together, we’ll continue to find ways to help and recover as one community.”
The Bago City government also earlier postponed all remaining activities for the Al Cinco de Noviembre celebration, with only the thanksgiving mass, flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremony set to proceed on Nov. 10.
The postponement was in light of the devastation brought by Typhoon Tino. “At this time, when many of our fellow Negrenses and Filipinos are facing the challenges of recovery and rebuilding, we deem it most fitting to pause our festivities and instead stand together in empathy, compassion, and service,” Mayor Mayette Javellana said in a statement.
The rescheduled events on Nov. 10 aim to honor the spirit of heroism and unity that the Al Cinco de Noviembre embodies, she added. “All other activities will be rescheduled to a more favorable date, once conditions have stabilized and our communities are ready to celebrate with renewed hope and gratitude.”/CGC
