BACOLOD CITY - The Provincial Social Welfare and Development (PSWD) reported on Friday, Oct. 28, that at least 13,710 individuals or 3,076 families were displaced in Negros Occidental due to Tropical Storm ‘Paeng.’
Floodings were reported in the towns of Moises Padilla, Calatrava, E.B. Magalona, Valladolid, and Hinoba-an, and the cities of San Carlos and Bago.
Most of the affected were in Valladolid town, wherein 2,589 families or 11,651 individuals were affected in Barangays Alijis, Ayungon, Bayabas, Central Tabao, Mabini, Palaka, Poblacion, Sagua Banwa, and Tabao Proper.
Also affected were one family composed of four persons in Barangay 1 Poblacion, Moises Padilla; 102 families or 524 individuals in Barangays Rizal, 1, 2, 5, and 6 in San Carlos City; 190 families or 950 individuals in Barangays Bantayanon, Lemery, Lo-ok, Marcelo, Patun-an, Pinucotan, Refugio, San Benito, and Telim in Calatrava town; 90 families or 242 persons in Barangay Sto. Niño in E. B. Magalona; three families or eight persons in one barangay in Bago City; and 101 families or 331 individuals in Barangays Dalag and Culipapa in Hinoba-an town.
A resident of Barangay San Benito, Calatrava town captured a landslide near their house as posted on Facebook on Friday.
Loud screams were heard on the video as residents ran to hide at their houses for safety.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has issued a typhoon advisory on Friday, raising the alert status of the Provincial DRRMs to red alert for close monitoring, consolidation of reports, and coordination with concerned agencies and stakeholders.
The advisory also included a conduct of possible preemptive or mandatory or forced evacuation if necessary.
Meanwhile, 129 families or 503 individuals are temporarily staying in seven evacuation centers here per report of the City Social Welfare and Development Office.
Affected areas here were Barangays 39, Punta Taytay, Estefania, 35, 36, Mandalagan, Taculing, Sum-ag, and Alijis.
All barangay officials of coastal barangays as well as flood-prone barangays were enjoined to activate their barangay disaster risk reduction management (DRRM) and monitor their respective areas for possible flooding and landslide due to heavy or intense rain, minor to moderate threat to lives due to strong winds.
The province, including Bacolod, was placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 on Friday.
STRANDED
The Philippine Coast Guard reported that 496 passengers and 231 cargoes were stranded at the seaports in northern Negros Occidental on Friday.
These were part of the total 1,044 passengers and 353 cargoes stranded in various ports in Western Visayas following the suspension of sea trips.
On the other hand, the Ayala Malls Capitol Central here kept its doors open for anyone who would take shelter amid the storm that day.
Beyond mall hours, the Fiesta Market restrooms remain open, the mall said in its Facebook post. Overnight parking fees were also waived.