Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson issued Executive Order 21-59 Monday, December 20, declaring a state of calamity in the entire Negros Occidental due to Super Typhoon Odette.
Lacson said typhoon casualties were 38 and the initial typhoon damage to Negros Occidental was P5.9 billion, with the biggest losses in agriculture.
The governor in his EO asked the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) to immediately adopt the declaration of a state of calamity and pass a resolution to provide a portion of the calamity fund to extend immediate assistance to those affected by Typhoon Odette, and to aid the rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts of the province.
He also called on the SP to pass a resolution for a price freeze on basic necessities and prime commodities over the entire province to curb predatory pricing by businesses and hoarding of goods.
The executive order shall take effect immediately and will be lifted on the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.
Lacson said part of the calamity funds of local government units has already been spent for the COVID-19 response. There will definitely not be enough local government funds to cover for the P5.9 billion losses.
“Under the quick response of the provincial government there is only P15 million left but we will still look for other funds from savings,” he said.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council Monday morning recommended the declaration of a state of calamity in Negros Occidental.
The recommendation will be submitted to the SP for approval Tuesday but Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer said “it’s as good as approved”.
The cost of destroyed houses was P13.6 million, damaged houses – P212 million, schools – P268 million, agriculture – P4.4 billion, animals and livestock – P488 million, health 13.6 million, food and nutrition – P327 million, infrastructure – P201 million and seaports -P12 million for a total of P5,982,947,301, Lacson said.
Damaged houses were 46,331 and destroyed were 9,860, a report from Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.
Lacson said the Department of Social Welfare and Development has been sending help in fact there are 30,000 food packs being sent to the sixth district of Negros Occidental.
“We will continuously ask the DSWD to help as long as it is needed,” he said.
The governor said they are also asking electric cooperatives to hasten the restoration of power because without electricity there will be no water and communication.
They are also appealing for assistance from the Department of Energy to send help for the electric cooperatives to put up their toppled power lines, he said.
He said more than 34,000 Negrenses were preemptively evacuated before the typhoon.
Lacson said assistance for the evacuees from the private sector, especially food and water, is needed.*