BACOLOD CITY: With the death toll from Typhoon “Odette” (international name: “Rai”) reaching 28, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said over the weekend he was set to declare Negros Occidental under a state of calamity.
Data from the Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMT) showed that Sipalay City had 13 recorded deaths as of December 18.
However, the province’s beach capital still had 50 other residents still missing, said Dr. Zeaphard Gerhart Caelian, head of PDMT.
Caelian added that 10 of those residents drowned in floods, two others were hit by falling trees and another died from hypothermia.
As of Sunday, December 19, out of the 50 residents previously reported as missing in Sipalay City 16 were already found.
The city was still difficult to reach in order for rescuers to conduct operations after fallen trees and electric posts blocked roads.
People also needed food, water, hygiene kits and generators as Sipalay was still without power and means of communication.
Salvador Mesa 3rd of the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said all of the city’s 17 barangay (villages) were affected by Odette while 7,000 houses were reportedly destroyed.
That number was almost as much as the total provincial tally, reported earlier on Saturday.
More than 3,000 had also evacuated their homes, according to Mesa.
All of the power lines were down, he said, adding that they were advised by the electric cooperative that power restoration could take two to four months.
Sipalay City police chief Maj. James Latayon said floodwaters had already subsided and that clearing operations were ongoing.
The main roads were already passable, Latayon added.
Lacson said the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, which he headed, would pass a resolution on Monday, December 20 for the declaration.
The declaration of a state of calamity would enable the capitol to utilize its Quick Response Fund, the governor pointed out.
The damage to Negros Occidental may have reached billions of pesos, Lacson added.
Data from PDMT also showed that 93,696 residents were evacuated.
An initial report showed a total of 1,627 houses were destroyed, and 5,312 were damaged.
The BRP Nueva Vizcaya of the Philippine Coast Guard had been deployed to Sipalay City from Iloilo City.
On board were cargo for distribution to affected families due to Odette such as house repair kits, shelter kits, hygiene kits, family kits and a rubber boat with an engine.
A 12- man crew was tasked to provide additional personnel for relief operations.
(Source: EUGENE ADIONG-The Manila Times)
