No major damage, no deaths: Ruby spares Negros Oriental

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of Negros Oriental, chaired by Governor Roel Degamo, yesterday declared that no major damage to lives and property was reported in the province so far in the wake of typhoon Ruby.

PDRRMC Executive Officer Adrian Sedillo, also the Capitol's spokesperson, disclosed that except for some persons who sustained injuries, no fatalities were reported in relation to the typhoon, which spared the province.

Sedillo said the PDRRMC has not received as of yesterday any reports yet from the field of major damage to infrastructure, agriculture, businesses, livelihoods and even lives, even though thousands were evacuated to safety, days ahead of Ruby's expected landfall Saturday.

The PDRRMC, however, maintained the usual protocol of first responders to be on standby alert, despite the lifting of the storm signal.

Classes for pre-school and elementary levels were suspended until yesterday to allow families, particularly those evacuated, to settle down and return to their normal lives, Sedillo said. Other schools, colleges and universities in Dumaguete City and other parts of Negros Oriental, however, resumed classes yesterday.

Thousands of families from Dumaguete, Guihulngan City, La Libertad, Jimalalud, Bindoy, Bais City, Amlan and Sibulan, among other towns and cities, have also returned to their homes.

Flights to Dumaguete and all forms of sea travel also resumed yesterday after these were cancelled during the weekend due to the typhoon.