By CESAR JOLITO III

At least 12 barangays in Bacolod City were hit by flooding on Thursday night, October 9, following heavy rains brought by a tropical storm and a low-pressure area.

The flooding displaced at least 150 residents and prompted city officials to activate emergency response operations.

According to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), floodwaters affected Barangays 1, 3, 9, 12, 17, 20, Banago, Mandalagan, Montevista, Singcang-Airport, Taculing, and Villamonte.

Secretary to the Mayor Marty Go said about 30 families or 150 individuals were forced to evacuate after water levels rose up to four feet in some areas before subsiding past 1:00 a.m. yesterday.

“All evacuees were safely brought to designated evacuation centers,” Go said.

The CDRRMO reported that four individuals were evacuated in Barangay 1, 52 in Barangay Banago, four in Barangay Singcang-Airport, and 82 in Barangay Villamonte.

The CDRRMO’s 24/7 emergency operations center was activated, deploying 15 emergency response personnel to affected areas.

Assisting in rescue and clearing efforts were the BFP-Bacolod, Negros Tigers Rescue Group, Amity Volunteer Fire Brigade, and barangay rescue teams.

The Department of Social Services and Development, along with barangay officials, distributed food packs and other relief items to displaced families./CJ, WDJ