By CESAR JOLITO III
The devastation brought by Typhoon “Tino” has prompted widespread calamity across Negros Island, with Negros Occidental, Bacolod City and Negros Oriental’s Canlaon City now all officially placed under a state of calamity.
In Bacolod, the Sangguniang Panlungsod approved the recommendation of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) during a special session yesterday.
The resolution cited that all 61 barangays were affected when the city was placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4, causing extensive infrastructure and utility damage.
Under a state of calamity, the locality can access the 30 percent quick response fund of the five percent calamity fund and trust fund to fast-track relief and recovery efforts.
At least 7,895 families or 27,401 individuals were preemptively evacuated in the city.
According to the CDRRMC, 87.01 percent of power customers experienced a total blackout lasting more than 24 hours as of Wednesday, November 5, while 40.20 percent of water consumers suffered reduced water supply.
These conditions led to the immediate approval of Bacolod’s calamity declaration to expedite aid and rehabilitation.
In a statement, Mayor Greg Gasataya said the declaration will also allow enforcement of a price freeze on basic necessities.
Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson confirmed that the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council also unanimously approved a resolution recommending the declaration of a province-wide state of calamity due to “Tino’s” widespread damage.
The declaration allows the province to mobilize calamity funds, facilitate recovery efforts, and extend support to heavily affected local government units.
Early declaration
Earlier, the Office of the Civil Defense in Negros Island Region reported that three local government units in Negros Occidental — La Carlota City, La Castellana and Toboso — had already declared their own states of calamity.
Himamaylan City is also expected to follow, with Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao confirming that the local council will deliberate on the declaration during its session yesterday.
Gatuslao said the city experienced widespread flooding and significant damage in both coastal and upland barangays, adding that a child tragically died after being swept away by floodwaters during the height of the storm.
In Negros Oriental’s Canlaon City, the local government likewise formalized its declaration under Resolution No. 231, titled “declaring the entire city under a state of calamity.”/ With reports from PNA /CJ, WDJ