Negros Occ loses P5.6M to floods, strong winds

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The heavy rains, strong winds, and tornadoes brought by the southwest monsoon wrought P5.6 million in damages to palay and fishing boats in Negros Occidental this week, according to reports of the Capitol.

According to the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, damage to palay was estimated at P5,568,595, itemized as follows: P3,798,000 in Valladolid town; P553,000 in Pulupandan; P549.675 in Sipalay City; P384,000 in Ilog; P213,920 in Hinoba-an; and P69,800 in Cauayan. 

Two fishing boats worth 100,000 were damaged in Binalbagan town, the report added.

A report from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office said that, as of 6 a.m. yesterday, about 2,442 families or 10,036 people from 11 towns and cities affected, and a total of 112 houses were destroyed and 1,181 others partially damaged.

The affected LGUs were the towns of Valladolid, which declared a state of calamity Tuesday, Hinobaan, Hinigaran, Pulupandan, Pontevedra, and San Enrique, and the cities of Bago and Himamaylan—all in southern Negros; and Candoni, E. B. Magalona, and Silay City. - THE FREEMAN