(1st Update) Four people died while damage to agriculture rose to over P40 million as massive flooding swept across Negros Occidental due to Tropical Depression Crising and the intensified southwest monsoon last week.
The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) reported on July 22 that flooding across the province has damaged farmlands, with agricultural losses rising to P44.4 million.
The report also disclosed that 1,784 farmers were affected, as rising floodwaters wiped out an estimated 1,332 metric tons of rice and high-value crops across the province.
Government agencies and local authorities have released P22.5 million in total assistance, ranging from financial aid to emergency relief efforts.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) distributed P1.9 million worth of food assistance to around 3,200 families displaced by the flooding.
Local officials remain on high alert as monsoon conditions continue to affect low-lying communities across Negros Occidental.
Based on the report of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) on Sunday, July 20, reported that among the fatalities was Glen Francisco Trejero, a 30-year-old fisherman from Sagay City, who went missing at sea on Thursday and was found dead on Sunday.
In Himamaylan, 44-year-old Mejhon Cordero was recovered from the Pangiplan River in Binalbagan, also on Sunday. A 12-year-old boy, Daniel Agustin, reportedly suffered an epileptic episode and was swept away by strong currents in Binalbagan on Saturday.
In another incident, 84-year-old Asuncion Subong, a person with disability, drowned inside her flooded home in Binalbagan on Thursday, the agency said.
Impact
PDRRMC said that the flooding affected over 331,455 residents in 139 barangays across 18 cities and municipalities in Negros Occidental.
These include Hinoba-an, Cauayan, Binalbagan, Isabela, Sipalay City, Kabankalan City, Himamaylan City, Ilog, Candoni, Hinigaran, Calatrava, Moises Padilla, Pontevedra, Valladolid, La Castellana, Bago City, La Carlota City, and San Enrique.
The widespread flooding also destroyed 14 houses and damaged 121 others.
Five homes were destroyed in Bago City, four in La Castellana, three in Isabela, and one each in Hinoba-an and Sipalay City. Hinoba-an reported the highest number of damaged houses at 91, followed by Bago City with 25 and Sipalay City with five.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson earlier said that some local government units may consider declaring a state of calamity due to the scale and severity of the damage.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.