Nineteen local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental were affected by inclement weather due to Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine” last week, causing significant damage to agriculture amounting to P4.2 million.

Rice, corn and high-value crops on 152.82 hectares incurred initial losses valued at P3,221,433, affecting 206 farmers, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Center (PDRRMC) reported.

The fisheries sector, particularly in Cadiz City and E.B. Magalona town, suffered P575,930 in damages, while livestock sustained losses at P419,578, affecting 1,329 farm animals in the cities of Bago and La Carlota, as well as the municipalities of Pontevedra, Pulupandan and Valladolid.

Meanwhile, 2,348 families or 8,452 individuals in 108 barangays in the province have been displaced by the inclement weather due to “Kristine.”

At least 791 families or 2,715 persons from 19 affected LGUs remain in evacuation centers.

The families affected by floods and landslides came from Cadiz City with 734, followed by Sipalay City (511), Sagay City (269), Hinoba-an town (157), Cauayan town (140), Silay City (128), Pontevedra town (98), Bago City (61), Valladolid town (49), Hinigaran town (43), Binalbagan town (41), San Carlos City (28), San Enrique town (25), Escalante City (22), Ilog town (18), Victorias City (12), Isabela town (10), and La Carlota City (two).

Ninety-six houses were destroyed, while 2,898 others were partially damaged, the PDRRMC reported.

Sagay City has the highest number of damaged houses with 84.

It is followed by Hinoba-an town with 68, Pontevedra town (31), Cadiz City (27), San Enrique town (25), Valladolid town (16), Sipalay City (15), Escalante City (13), Victorias City and San Carlos City (12 each), Cauayan town (10), Isabela town (four), and Hinigaran town (one)./WDJ