Bacolod town under state of calamity

THE town officials of EB Magalona in Negros Occidental placed the town under state of calamity after heavy rains caused flooding that affected 5,400 families in 12 villages last Thursday.

In a luncheon session by the Municipal Council Friday, a resolution declaring the town under state of calamity was unanimously approved.

Mayor David Albert Lacson said in a radio interview that the whole town was declared under the state of calamity so that they will be able to utilize the calamity fund for the relief assistance to the affected families.

Lacson thanked the members of council for their immediate action.

“We really need an ample amount to buy relief goods such as rice, noodles and sardines to address the immediate needs of the affected families,” he said.

Lacson added that they will allocate funds for massive shoreline dredging in nine coastal barangays to address the flooding problem, as the de-clogging operations which were conducted recently had not totally stopped the flooding.

“I’ve already discussed this shoreline dredging with Congressman Albee Benitez and he’s really interested to help us in this plan,” the mayor said.

Barangay Tabigue was the worst hit barangay, with 900 families affected. The other heavily hit barangays and the corresponding number of families affected are Barangay Pasil-700; Alicante-695; Damgo-605; Sto. Niño-500; Barangay 2-566; San Jose-568; Barangay 3-528; and Barangay 1-220.

Barangays Tuburan and Manta-angan have yet to submit their respective reports as of press time.

The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office reported that the families were evacuated last Thursday night.

The Municipal Government has already extended P200,000 worth of relief goods in the form of 121 sacks of rice, 66 boxes of noodles and sardines.

Benitez also sent 600 packs of goodies, five sacks of rice, three boxes of sardines and three boxes of noodles.

All casual employees in town were tasked to undertake the repacking and distribution of relief goods to the affected barangays.

“We are also hoping that the province as well as the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Region 6 (Western Visayas) could also spare some amount or goods for us,” Lacson said.