Mayor 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 Home for the Blind in Barangay Mansilingan.
As of 3 p.m. Wednesday 3,652 families, or 16,927 individuals, remained in evacuation centers.
The mayor has directed all barangays to submit consolidated reports on inaccessible roads to expedite clearing operations. The City Engineer’s Office and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) are spearheading these efforts, with the Mayor assuring that all roads will be cleared within two days.
Gasataya also extended the suspension of classes at all levels, public and private, until Friday, November 7, to ensure safety during ongoing clearing operations.
The mayor also met with department heads to collate damage reports from barangays before deciding on a possible declaration of a State of Calamity.
“We are closely monitoring the effects of the typhoon, particularly on our power and water supply, road networks, and the situation of evacuees,” he said.
Government operations are set to resume Thursday .
The city will also provide generator sets to water refilling stations needing temporary power to support water distribution in affected communities, the press release said.*