By CESAR JOLITO III
Major roads and bridges in Negros Oriental’s Canlaon City are now passable, exactly a month after massive flooding and landslides due to Typhoon “Tino” left at least 20 people dead and caused extensive damage to infrastructure and agriculture, as the city begins a slow road to recovery.
During the Negros Island Region Development Council’s 4th quarter meeting in Bacolod City yesterday, Negros Oriental Governor Manuel Sagarbarria said the provincial government immediately deployed heavy equipment to Canlaon the day after the onslaught to help clear debris that had clogged a key bridge and spilled over to the national highway.
“We sent four heavy equipment units — a backhoe, grader, loader, and other machinery — including water tankers,” Sagarbarria said.
“All these are intended for disaster response in our [local government units]. When the debris blocked the bridge, the water overflowed to the national highway, carrying trees and rocks as big as cars. Grabe ang damage,” the governor added.
The governor said clearing operations were crucial to reopening routes for government vehicles carrying relief goods and other assistance to affected communities.
However, Sagarbarria said that while roads are now open, Canlaon has yet to fully return to normal after “Tino.”
“It’s progressing and coming back to what it used to be, but I am expecting at least a year for full recovery,” he added.
Sagarbarria emphasized that Canlaon, a major producer of high-value crops, plays a vital role in supplying agricultural products to Negros Occidental and Bacolod City.
With farm losses initially estimated at P5 to P10 million, the governor said support from the Department of Agriculture (DA) is urgently needed.
“We are asking the DA to assist so that our planters can replant and regain their livelihoods,” he said.
National government aid is also expected to continue flowing into the city as communities begin rebuilding homes, farms and public infrastructure.
As recovery efforts progress, Sagarbarria assured residents that the provincial government will sustain assistance, saying the goal is to fully restore Canlaon’s economic activity and ensure resilience against future disasters./CJ, WDJ