14 Valladolid villages under state of calamity

MAYOR Romel Yogore of Valladolid confirmed that 14 barangays in the town were declared under the state of calamity effective Monday after Typhoon 'Gener' caused flooding that affected hundreds of families.

It is important that the state of calamity be declared so that the affected barangays can use their calamity funds to help the affected families recover from the havoc of flooding, the mayor said.

Four hundred families were affected, 23 houses were totally damaged while 131 residences were partially damaged. Out of the totally damaged houses, four were destroyed by a whirlwind that hit the town.

The affected barangays were Ayungon, Mabini, Bagumbayan, Batuan, Doldol, Guintorilan, Pacol, Palaka, Tabao Proper, Sagua Banwa, Poblacion, Paloma, Central Tabao and Alijis.

Meanwhile, heavy rains also flooded two barangays in Isabela but the affected families were able to immediately return to their respective houses after the water subsided.

In Hinigaran, 19 houses were also totally damaged while 15 were partially damaged. Twenty families evacuated.

In Bago City, 120 houses were partially damaged and 443 families were affected in Barangay Binubuhan and Barangay Poblacion.

In Hinoba-an, 140 houses were damaged by heavy rains which also affected thousands of residents in the town.

Meanwhile, Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. confirmed on Monday that a bridge in Hinobaan going to Bayawan, Negros Oriental was impassable last Saturday and Sunday but it became passable on Monday.

He added that relief goods were delivered by the Provincial Government to affected families in southern Negros Occidental.

Moreover, partial reports from the Provincial Agriculture office revealed that damage to crops as of press time was pegged at P4.4 million.

The affected rice fields were reported in Valladolid, Hinigaran, Ilog and Cauayan. (TDE)