Local News: Negros Occidental to Give P500K to Oriental Negros
The Negros Occidental provincial government will give P500,000 to its twin province Negros Oriental as cash assistance to its towns and cities devastated by a magnitude 6.9 quake that struck the island Monday.
Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) approved the budget during its regular session yesterday. Last December, the Provincial Capitol also gave P500,000 to Negros Oriental when it was also severely hit by floods. Rep. Albee Benitez (3rdDistrict) yesterday said he gave Negros Oriental P500,000 from his personal money. He added that he has also raised P500,000 from his colleagues in the House of Representatives.
Benitez said he will file a resolution today urging members of the House to contribute to the cash assistance for the victims of Monday’s quake.
He said Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong (1st District, Negros Oriental) has asked for help as most of the affected areas are within her district.
Since Monday, Negros Oriental officials had been appealing for help, either in cash or in kind.
Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo has appealed for assistance such as clothes, food and water, even as he expressed fears that the worst damage was concentrated in the province’s mountainous northern portion.
Tayasan Mayor Santiago Sameon V, whose town was the epicenter of the strongest quake to hit the island in recent years, said, “I would like to ask for some help. It would be welcome if our neighboring towns, cities, and provinces can help us in these times of need. It would greatly help us and make us happy if ever you would donate to us, either in cash or in kind,” Sameon said in an interview with Bombo Radyo Bacolod.
“This is the strongest earthquake we (have) experienced. We never thought this would happen,” he added.
All their 28 villages have sustained damage, including the seven along the coastline that have fissures on the roads, Sameon said.
Guihulngan City Mayor Ernesto Reyes, for his part, said, “We have no power, no water. We need medicines for the injured. We need food, water, and medicines,” he said.
Reyes said patients in critical condition have been brought to Bacolod City as they have no means of transportation going to the provincial capital of Dumaguete City.
FATALITIES
The Negros Oriental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council yesterday reported that as of 10 a.m. there were 26 fatalities from Monday’s quake all from Negros Oriental.
Fatalities include 12 from Guilhungan, 3 in Jimalalud, 3 in Tayasan, 3 in Bindoy, 3 in La Libertad, one each in Manjuyod and Ayungon.
Captain Anacito Naz of the 302nd Brigade, who led the relief operations said 23 people are still missing in Barangay Planaz, Guihulngan, and 42 in Barangay Solongon in La Libertad. There were 11,576 affected families, 34 totally and 89 partially damaged houses, and three bridges not passable, namely Martilo in La Libertad; Pangaluan, Jimalalud; Tinayonan, Guihulngan.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported that a magnitude 3.7 quake (or aftershock) was recorded 11:19 a.m. yesterday located at 10 kilometers northwest of Tayasan, Negros Oriental.* (DBDangcalan)
