By CESAR JOLITO III
More than 716,000 residents across 814 barangays in the Negros Island Region (NIR) were affected by the onslaught of Typhoon “Tino” on November 4, latest data from the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) showed.
As of Wednesday, November 12, about 139,988 persons remain displaced, staying either in 396 evacuation centers or with relatives and friends across NIR, RDRRMC data revealed.
More than 36,000 individuals from 10,753 families were evacuated preemptively before “Tino” struck.
The death toll has risen to 64, while 153 individuals were injured and 68 remain missing, according to the report.
A total of 53,651 houses were damaged — 44,312 partially and 9,339 totally destroyed, mostly in Negros Occidental.
The total damage to agriculture was estimated at P42.8 million, while infrastructure losses are still being validated.
“Tino” caused widespread flooding and landslides, particularly hitting the central and southern parts of Negros Occidental and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.
Among the hardest-hit areas were the cities of La Carlota and Sipalay City, as well as the towns of Pontevedra, Binalbagan and Moises Padilla, where flooding reached ceiling height in several barangays.
Power outages
The RDRRMC reported that power interruptions affected 24 local government units (LGUs) across the region.
Restoration efforts are ongoing, with electric cooperatives reporting varying recovery rates:
* Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (Noceco) — 76.50 percent restored
* Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (Noneco) — 68.85 percent restored
* Negros Oriental Electric Cooperative (Noreco) — 99.28 percent restored
* Negros Electric and Power Corporation — 73.54 percent restored
Humanitarian assistance amounting to more than P45 million has been extended — P43.4 million to affected families and P1.19 million to LGUs and agencies. Aid includes family packs, shelter repair kits and rice distribution.
Search, rescue, and retrieval operations are jointly conducted by Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management units, the Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, Armed Forces of the Philippines, intelligence drones, and K-9 units./CJ, WDJ