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Flashfloods hit Negros Occidental
By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan

BACOLOD CITY -- One died and another was reported missing in Cauayan town while 531 families were displaced as flashfloods hit the province of Negros Occidental early morning Tuesday.

Police identified the fatality as Marilou Oliveros, 15, of sitio Santol, Barangay Guihulngan in Cauayan.

Oliveros's friend Melanie Ilardes, 15, also of the same sitio, is still missing as of this writing Tuesday.

Inspector Louie Figueroa, the town's police chief, said the two went to a benefit dance in a nearby sitio in the same barangay Saturday night. At around 11 p.m., they were on their way home and were crossing the Santol River "when they were reportedly swept away by the strong current."

Oliveros's body was found by Santol residents floating in the river Tuesday morning, said Figueroa. "But we're not stopping efforts to look for the missing girl," the police officer added.

Dave Cuajao, a staff of the Provincial Disaster Management Team (PDMT), said rescuers from the towns and cities in southern Negros are now searching for the missing girl.

Rescuers were also instructed to assist other flooded localities in the southern part of the province like in Binalbalbagan, Pontevedra, Hinigaran, Kabankalan, Cauayan, Sipalay, Hinoba-an, and Ilog.

Provincial Social Welfare and Development officer (PSWDO) Llane Garcia reported that as of 6 a.m. Tuesday, there were six barangays in Ilog hit by flashfloods, displacing 531 families with 2,655 individuals affected.

Garcia identified the areas as barangays 1, Calubang, Vista Alegre, Dancalan, Andulawan, and Delicioso.

Of the 531 affected families, 124 are from purok Embarkadero, Barangay 1; 100 in purok Mangga Vargas, Barangay Calubang; 56 from purok Mo-og, Barangay Vista Alegre; crossing Caubang, Barangay Dancalan has 96; purok Limbo, Barangay Andulawan with 28; and 127 in purok Libas-Talisay, Barangay Delicioso.

The PSWDO is coordinating with local government officials of Ilog for the needed assistance.

Some of the affected families are still housed at evacuation centers in their respective barangays.

Governor Isidro Zayco said he instructed the PSWDO, PDMT, and the Provincial Health Office (PHO) to be on alert due to the bad weather condition.

He wants PDMT to update him from time-to-time on the province's situation as rains continue to pound Negros Tuesday.

Cuajao, for his part, warned Negrenses against the possible occurrence of landslides in areas like Calatrava, Toboso, Escalante City, and Don Salvador Benedicto in the north, and Cauayan, Sipalay City, Hinoba-an, Ilog, and Kabankalan City in the south. (Sun.Star Bacolod/Sunnex)



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