105 barangays hit by typhoon Frank Negros Occ.
BACOLOD CITY – Typhoon "Frank" lashed at 105 barangays affecting 7,312 families in Negros Occidental mainly because of floods, landslides and isolated tornado leaving 4 dead and 664 houses totally destroyed or damaged.
1,450 families or 8,600 individuals from 24 barangays in the city were affected by the onslaught of strong winds and heavy rains brought by typhoon "Frank" last Saturday, as reported by the Bacolod City Disaster Coordinating Council.
Consolidated reports from the Provincial Disaster Management team disclosed that 16 cities and municipalities in the province were also affected consisting of 5,862 families or 25,000 individuals from 81 barangays. Reports indicated that 167 houses were totally destroyed while about 497 houses were partially damaged. Four persons were reported dead due to the typhoon.
The 16 cities and municipalities affected are: Isabela, Cauayan, Binalbagan, Moises Padilla, Hinigaran, Valladolid, Pontevedra, Bago City, Pulupandan, Sagay City, Manapla, Victorias City, Silay City, Talisay, Murcia, and EB Magalona.
Both government and non-government organizations quickly spearheaded efforts to evacuate affected families from flood stricken areas and provide relief assistance such as rice, canned goods, noodles and medicines at evacuation centers.
Lone District Congressman Monico Puentevella mobilized the DPWH trucks and personally went to affected barangays and evacuated victims to designated evacuation centers at the height of the storm early morning of Saturday.
The city government's Disaster Coordinating Council, headed by Acting Mayor and Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, gathered their resources in securing about 100 sacks of NFA rice, hundreds of cartons of canned goods and noodles for immediate distribution to typhoon victims in evacuation centers.
Gov. Isidro Zayco immediately dispatched the provincial government's Rescue and Disaster Management Team to evacuate and provide relief assistance to affected cities and municipalities in the province. The governor further directed the Provincial Health Office to assist victims in evacuation centers to prevent possible outbreak of diseases as may be brought about by the imminent unsanitary conditions and potable water shortage.
Bacolod City Police Director Ronilo Quebrar directed all police station commanders to assess and secure affected families, and provide policemen in evacuation centers in their respective areas of responsibilities.
Sr Supt Rosendo Franco, Negros Occidental Provincial Police Director, likewise directed the provincial Chiefs of Police to assist in evacuation efforts and to also provide policemen in evacuation areas.
The Army in the province was also dispatched by Major Nathaniel Villasor to primarily evacuate affected families in far flung barangays that were stranded and isolated in their homes due to floods and landslides.
Volunteer rescue and disaster management organizations closely coordinated with local government agencies in implementing rescue and relief operations in both city and provincial jurisdictions.
The city and provincial governments, as a result, promptly declared states of calamity in affected areas to be able to release their respective calamity funds to further provide relief assistance to their constituents.