• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
San Enrique town in Negros Occidental has been placed under a state of calamity due to the effects of southwest monsoon enhanced by Typhoon Ferdie, Mayor Jilson Tubillara said on Tuesday (Sept. 17).
The declaration was recommended by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, and approved by the Municipal Council during a special session on Monday.
“All the 10 barangays were affected by floods,” Tubillara said.
According to the resolution, prolonged rains resulted in flooding in all parts of the municipality, affecting 9,262 families or 29,823 individuals, of whom 869 families or 1,945 individuals have been evacuated as of Sunday morning.
As of 5 p.m. on Tuesday, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) reported 3,466 affected families staying in evacuation centers, and 609 families staying in other areas.
Across the province, 29,838 families or 100,335 persons were affected in 174 barangays of 23 LGUs.
The PDRRMC also reported one casualty while a minor, who got drowned in Sipalay City, remains missing.
Nine houses were destroyed while 121 others had been damaged in the province.
Initial damage to rice, corn and high value crops was pegged at P29.696 million in 60 barangays of Negros Occidental while in fisheries, P1.063 million, and livestock, P889,855.
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Irene Bel Ploteña discouraged displaced families who are staying in the evacuation centers from returning home yet due to continuing heavy rains and floods. | GB
