Shadow

Negros state of calamity to hasten aid, storm destroys, damages 1,283 houses

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Thursday, November 3, that the declaration of a state of calamity in Western Visayas will hasten the release of aid to residents affected by Tropical Storm “Paeng”.

“Paeng” destroyed 180 houses and damaged 1,103 in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City.

Flooding brought on by “Paeng” also affected 43,448 families with 170,043 members in Negros Occidental, Provincial Social Welfare Officer Merle Garcia said in an updated report on Thursday.

She said 18 families with 88 members remained at evacuation centers on Thursday.

“Paeng” destroyed 111 houses and damaged 989 in Negros Occidental, Garcia added.

In Bacolod 69 houses were destroyed and 114 were damaged, Pacita Tero, City Department of Social Services and Development head, said.

They were still consolidating the figures on the “Paeng” affected persons in Bacolod City, Tero added.

Lacson said the number of houses damaged and destroyed will have to be validated.
POSITVE WAY

The governor also said he welcomes the declaration of a state of calamity because it can always be used in a positive way.

It gives access to calamity funds that if properly used will help constituents, he said.

“It gives LGUs the opportunity to access their calamity funds if there is still any,” Lacson said.

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Benitez also said “It will boost LGUs response to the calamity.”

Lacson said the provincial government will have to determine if it needs to allocate funds since the Department of Social Welfare and Development is expected to help those whose houses were damaged a and destroyed.

If the DSWD extends help, the provincial government will see if there is a need to augment, Lacson said.

Lacson said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration was not very accurate about its initial forecast of Paeng. PAGASA had said that “Paeng” was going to hit Luzon but it became clear that it was all over the country, Lacson added.

This is not the first time PAGASA has not been so accurate, he said.

Negros Occidental suffered losses of P257.8 million in crops and farm animals, reports submitted to Lacson on Wednesday showed.

The flood-affected LGUs were Bago City, Binalbagan, Cadiz City, Calatrava, Candoni, Cauayan, EB Magalona, Escalante City, Himamaylan City, Hinigaran, Hinoba-an, Ilog, Isabela, Kabankalan City, La Carlota City, La Castellana, Manapla, Moises Padilla, Murcia, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, Sagay City, Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City, San Enrique, Silay City, Sipalay City, Toboso , Valladolid, and Victorias City, Garcia said.

Some barangays in Bacolod City were also flooded.*

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