Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson placed Negros Occidental under red alert Friday, October 28, as Tropical Storm “Paeng” intensified and signal number one was hoisted over the province.
The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) reported 17,011 persons affected by flooding, with 1,279 in evacuation centers in four towns and three cities of Negros Occidental as of 4 p.m. Friday.
Some local government units were conducting preemptive evacuations Friday night as flooding continued.
In Cauayan town one house was destroyed and three were damaged, Social Welfare Officer Eugenia Caña said.
Mayor Marvin Malacon said 10 houses were destroyed in the coastal barangays of EB Magalona.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration placed portions of northern and central Negros Occidental under Alert Level 1 at 11 a.m. and increased its coverage to the entire province at 2 p.m. Friday.
The center of Tropical Storm “Paeng” was estimated at 100 km east northeast of Catarman, Northern Samar, or 165 km east of Juban, Sorsogon at 8 p.m. Friday, PAGASA said.
Lacson in an advisory issued at noon Friday said the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center (PDRRMC) and the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils and Operation Centers are directed to raise their status to red alert and conduct preemptive or mandatory forced evacuation if necessary.
The PDRRMC Emergency Preparedness and Response is activated to Charlie Protocol effective immediately and is subject to change depending on updates on the hazard situation and risk levels, he said.
“Let us pray, prepare and be pro-active for a resilient and safer Negros,” Lacson said.
Provincial Social Welfare Officer Merle Garcia said there were 2,773 families with 17,011 individuals affected by flooding in 33 barangays in San Carlos, Bago and Kabankalan cities, and Calatrava, Valladolid, Moises Padilla and Hinoba-an towns.
She said 326 families with 1,279 individuals were in evacuation centers.
Persons affected by flooding who were not in evacuation centers in Calatrava were 3,835, EB Magalona – 242, Valladolid – 11,651, and Moises Padilla – 4.
Those affected by flooding who sought shelter in evacuation centers in San Carlos City were 524, Bago City – 11, Hinoba-an – 679 and Kabankalan City – 65.
Classes were suspended in numerous towns and cities and some mayors called off work in government offices on Friday.
San Carlos City also called off its Pinta Flores Festival activities on Saturday, October 29.