By CESAR JOLITO III

The onslaught of the southwest monsoon or habagat, enhanced by Severe Tropical Storm “Crising,” left a trail of destruction worth P185 million in damages to agriculture and infrastructure across the Negros Island Region (NIR).

Damage to schools and public infrastructure was pegged at P88.7 million in Negros Oriental alone, including 25 classrooms totally destroyed.

Meanwhile, agricultural losses reached an estimated P97.3 million in Negros Occidental, affecting nearly 5,000 farmers and fisherfolk.

The hardest-hit crops include rice, corn and high-value vegetables, with over 900 hectares of farmland totally damaged.

In Negros Occidental, 507 homes were reported damaged — 53 totally and 454 partially.

A total of 43 road sections were rendered impassable at the height of the rains, though all have since reopened.

Power outages affected five cities and municipalities, particularly in the cities of Sipalay and Bago, and the towns of La Castellana and Candoni, but were mostly restored by July 24.

Communication lines in Sipalay were briefly cut but have since returned to normal.

At least 49,795 families, or 188,498 individuals, were affected in the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.

While most were served outside evacuation centers, a small number sought shelter in temporary evacuation facilities.

Flooding hit 14 barangays in Negros Occidental, including low-lying areas in the cities of Bago, Kabankalan and Himamaylan, as well as the municipalities of Cauayan and Hinoba-an, although waters have since subsided.

The Negros Occidental provincial government declared a state of calamity on July 24, covering 32 cities and municipalities.

Despite P32.8 million worth of aid being earmarked, official reports as of July 28 state that no families have yet received assistance, with validation still ongoing./CJ, WDJ