BACOLOD CITY - Four local government units (LGUs) in the third district of Negros Occidental have declared a state of calamity in their respective jurisdictions, following series of flooding in the northern part of the province in the past two weeks.

The first to declare was the city of Talisay due to the New Year’s Day flooding that affected thousands of residents, and destroyed hundreds of houses.

It was followed by the cities of Victorias and Silay, and the town of E.B. Magalona due to the January 8 flashfloods, that brought more destruction in infrastructures and houses.

A total of 38,675 families were displaced by the January 8 and 9 flooding brought by torrential rains in seven towns and cities in the northern part of the province.

Based on the data from the Provincial Disaster Management Program Division, the flooding affected 16,886 families in 16 barangays in Silay City, 12,567 families in 21 barangays in Victorias City; and 3,933 families in 20 barangays in Talisay City.

It also affected 3,339 families in 10 barangays in E.B. Magalona; 1,551 families in seven barangays in Sagay City; 384 families in seven barangays in Cadiz City; and 15 families in a barangay in Escalante City.

Residents of Sitio Pulo Malisbog in Barangay Hawaiian, Silay City are currently using zipline to cross the river after its bridge was destroyed by strong river current due to flashfloods. 

Two casualties in Silay and Victorias were reported during the series of flashfloods since January 1. 

Meanwhile, the damage and production losses to the agro-fishery sector was now pegged at almost P60 million, while the province’s livestock and poultry sector incurred about P8.6 million worth of damage since January 1.

Relief operations are ongoing.