Negros Occidental floods: Two cities in state of calamity; damage pegged at P11.6M

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines - Flooding in Negros Occidental have caused the declaration of Silay and Victorias cities in state of calamity, and damage to fisheries, crops, livestock and poultry in the province that authorities had estimated at P11.6 million.

The provincial agriculturist and veterinarian offices have pegged the damage to fishery and rice at over P10.8 million, and to livestock and poultry at P843,890.

Silay and Victorias had the most number of flood victims and destroyed houses from the floods that also hit the cities of Talisay and Bacolod, and the town of E.B. Magalona.

A total of 5,129 families in seven villages of Silay City were affected, with damage to fishpond structures, shallow fish coral, and rice hitting P3.56 million, while 4,635 families in 13 villages in Victorias were affected.

The report from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office further showed that floods struck seven villages in E.B. Magalona, and caused damage to rice and fishery worth over P6.9 million.

Talisay City had 13 villages affected, and damages worth P333,000 of crab gill nets of 10 operators.

In Bacolod, floodwaters rose in eight barangays and killed a 9-year-old girl in a river at Brgy. Villamonte. 

The floods destroyed or damaged 226 houses in Silay, 14 in Victorias, two in Talisay and one in E.B. Magalona. (FREEMAN)