By CESAR JOLITO III

Widespread flooding triggered by continuous heavy rains over the weekend affected all nine barangays in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town, damaging footbridges, houses and livestock.

Mayor Richard Jaojoco said at least four footbridges were destroyed after swollen rivers overflowed and washed out structures, including those in Barangay San Isidro, and areas in Salamanca and Bug-ang.

Jaojoco noted that while one lane in Sitio Minaunong, where a floodwall was partially damaged, remains passable, repairs are already being coordinated with the contractor, Kenneth Construction, and the Department of Public Works and Highways.

He said he has requested a copy of the program of works to determine the exact cost of the repairs, adding that some structures are still under warranty.

Aside from infrastructure damage, residents reported losses of household appliances and livestock, particularly pigs that were swept away by floodwaters.

Jaojoco said flooding was reported even in upland barangays such as Bug-ang and Magtikol, surprising authorities due to the extent of the water rise, which reached areas normally considered safe from floods.

Despite the widespread impact, no evacuations were reported, as floodwaters eventually subsided in most areas.

Jaojoco said the municipal government has begun distributing limited assistance to affected families, acknowledging budget constraints.

However, he emphasized that the local government is prioritizing long-term solutions over short-term relief.

“We are providing what assistance we can, but we also need to address the root causes of flooding. Continuous relief alone will not solve this problem,” Jaojoco said, adding that engineers from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office have already conducted site inspections to assess sustainable mitigation measures.

The mayor stressed that the municipality aims to move away from what he described as a “vicious cycle” of recurring floods and temporary aid by implementing long-term infrastructure and disaster risk reduction programs./CJ, WDJ