By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson appealed to Negrenses to follow the mandates of their respective local government units (LGUs) and local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (DRRMOs) during inclement weather conditions.
This came after two Negrenses were drowned amid the heavy downpours last Tuesday, July 25.
Lacson made the appeal after the province was battered by the enhanced southwest monsoon caused by Super Typhoon “Egay,” leaving thousands of residents affected and more than 1,000 homes damaged.
According to Lacson, Negros Occidental did not fall under storm signal, but the local DRRMOs still provided sufficient warnings in their respective areas of assignment.
The governor said there is still much to learn about preparedness and saving lives during disasters.
Negros Occidental was the hardest hit by floods in Western Visayas, following monsoon rains brought by “Egay” in the past days, with displaced persons totaling 58,829, data from the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council showed yesterday.
The highest number of affected residents were in Valladolid town with 21,442; San Enrique town with 19,589; Binalbagan town with 5,275; Ilog town with 2,926; Don Salvador Benedicto town with 2,074; and Cadiz City with 1,062, Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD) said.
Lacson said the majority of evacuees had already gone home on Thursday, July 27.
PDMPD added that 58 houses were destroyed while 945 were damaged in 19 LGUs, including San Enrique with 294; Don Salvador Benedicto with 257; Valladolid with 42; Pontevedra town with 36; Murcia town with 28; Cadiz with 23; Ilog with 22; Candoni town with 11; Silay City with nine; Cauayan town with seven; Hinoba-an town with six; La Carlota City with three; San Carlos City with three; Sagay City with two; and Talisay with one.
At least 409 farmers from nine cities and towns reported damage to crops at P7.55 million.
Monsoon rains have also affected 1,190 livestock with damages pegged at P519,000.
In Western Visayas, at least 46,384 individuals, or 9,621 families, were displaced in Iloilo province; followed by Aklan with 10,240 persons from 2,342 families; Antique with 6,882 persons from 1,905 families; and Guimaras with 772 persons from 226 families.
Meanwhile, a disaster risk reduction management summit was also held in Negros Occidental to enhance rescue response services by the PDMPD, which started on Thursday until yesterday./With reports from PNA / DGB, WDJ