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Bacolod City is now under a state of calamityThe Bacolod Sangguniang Panlalawigan Thursday afternoon, November 6, approved the request of Mayor Greg Gasataya and the recommendation of the Bacolod Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (BDRRMC) for its declaration following the widespread damage left by Typhoon "Tino".“We need to implement a price freeze, which is essential during a calamity. We also understand the situation of our barangays whose funds have been depleted and can no longer sustain the needs of evacuees and affected families,” Gasataya said.Councilor Dindo Ramos said the declaration will allow barangays to immediately utilize 30 percent of their quick response fund from their 5 percent calamity fund.In addition, the local government can also access it...

Preemptive evacuation in Bacolod.*BCCOMayor Greg Gasataya on Wednesday, Nov. 5, thanked frontliners, barangay officials, and partner agencies for their coordinated and preemptive measures in Bacolod City which ensured residents' safety during the onslaught of  Typhoon ‘Tino’ resulting in zero casualties."For whatever it’s worth, we really thank everyone who heeded the call for preemptive evacuation. In my assessment, we really saved a lot of lives," Gasataya said in a press release on Wednesday, Nov. 5.The Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) reported that 7,296 families, or 25,179 individuals, from 43 barangays were evacuated starting Monday afternoon. This included over 50 individuals, including persons with disabilities and senior citizens, from...

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) – Northern Negros Occidental has announced the resumption of sea travel in northern Negros ports as of Wednesday morning, November 5, following the improved weather conditions brought by the exit of Typhoon “Tino” from the Philippine Area of Responsibility.According to their Sea Travel Advisory No. 25, all scheduled trips from ports in the northern portion of Negros Occidental bound for Tabuelan, Toledo City, and Bantayan (Cebu), Dumangas, Iloilo City, Ajuy, Estancia, and Guimaras, and vice versa, have been allowed to resume operations.However, in a succeeding Advisory No. 26 issued at 11 a.m., the PCG clarified that voyages of MV Halili from the Manta-angan Port in E.B. Magalona bound for Bay-ang Port in Ajuy, Iloilo remain temporarily cancelled du...

Preemptive evacuation in Isabela, Negros, Occidental, Monday afternoon.* Mayor Miguel Angelo Yulo Facebook pageThousands of Negrenses and Bacolodnons were preemptively evacuated  Monday, Nov. 3, as Typhoon “Tino” intensified.Negros Occidental and Bacolod  City were both under red alert as the  Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) hoisted Signal No. 4,  No. 3, and No. 1  over various parts of the province.Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya called on residents to comply with calls for preemptive evacuation for their own safety.Bacolod has identified flood-prone and coastal barangays to be covered by the preemptive evacuation considering the strength of typhoon, Gasataya said.All Baco...

 The polluted waters of Manjuyod in Negros Oriental.* Romeo Subaldo photo The Municipality of Manjuyod in Negros Oriental has declared a state of calamity following the pollution caused by  the collapse of the waste water lagoon wall of the URC Bais Distillery, its Sangguniang Bayan announced on Monday, Nov. 3. The declaration shall remain in effect for 90 days, unless lifted or extended upon the recommendation of the Local Risk Reduction and Management Council, based on its assessment and validation of the environmental condition, it said. The Bais Sangguniang Panlungsod that also  earlier declared a State of calamity, stating that  the consequences of this disaster have severely impacted...

Expect large increases in fuel prices  starting Tuesday, November 4.Diesel prices  will increase by P2.50 to P2.70 per liter, Unioil Petroleum Philippines said.Gasoline prices  will increase by P1.30 to P1.50 per liter, it added.*

Water quality testing in 13 stations across the coastal area of Bais City, Negros Oriental.* Photo courtesy of Bais City-PIOThe Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has mobilized a team with partner government agencies and local government units (LGUs) to contain and assess the impact of a massive wastewater spill in Bais City, Negros Oriental.Some 255,000 cubic meters of molasses wastewater that leaked into Bais Bay on Oct. 26 from the Universal Robina Corporation (URC) ethanol distillery plant are posing a serious threat to marine life within the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape.Bais has declared a state of calamity.“Initial water quality assessments conducted by the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) indicate low levels of dissolved oxygen in aff...

Dead fish in Manjuyod after the waste water spill.*photo courtesy of MarGale Bancairen Facebook pageThe Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has advised against collecting and consuming dead fish and other aquatic organisms from the coastal waters of Bais and Manjuyod in Negros Oriental.This is a health precaution, as the dead aquatic life may contain harmful pathogens, chemicals, and pollutants that pose risks to human health, BFAR 7 Regional Director Mario Ruinata said in an advisory Tuesday, which was released to the media on Wednesday.Ruinata issued the advisory following the collapse of a wall of the 20-hectare wastewater lagoon of the Universal Robina Corporation (URC) Bais Distillery in Bais City, Negros Occidental, on Sunday.The collapse caused the waste...