Big waves lashed shoreline barangays of southern Negros Occidental anew yesterday and floodwaters rose for the third day, destroying and damaging more houses, and affecting more areas.

Strong winds and flood waters since Wednesday have damaged 1,972 houses and destroyed 258 others, affecting 53,341 people in 79 barangays in nine towns and four cities in southern Negros Occidental, figures from mayors of the affected areas and the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office showed. Hit were Binalbagan, Cauayan, Hinigaran, Hinoba-an, Ilog, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, San Enrique and Valladolid towns, and Bago, Himamaylan, La Carlota and Sipalay cities.

A partial report of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist showed an estimated crop production loss of P3,371,949 affecting 540 farmers.

Garbage cited for
clogged city waterways
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

The major cause of flooding in some areas in Bacolod City is the improper disposal of garbage, particularly plastic items, assistant Bacolod City Engineer Belly Aguillon said yesterday.

Aguillon said periodic inspections of manholes by the City Engineer's Office show that plastic items and other garbage clog the drainage system, and this causes the streets to flood during rainy season. She said engineer Elma Advincula, who is in charge of the repair and maintenance of city streets and bridges, undertakes the repair of the drainage systems and open canals in the city. They also have a roving team that inspect streets for flooding, she added.

Security up at
Bacolod airport, too
BY DONALYN GUERRERO

The domestic airport in Bacolod City was on high alert yesterday, following the thwarted bomb plot at the London Heathrow Airport Thursday.

Aviation Security Group-Bacolod chief, Insp. Efren Laquihon, told the DAILY STAR, security measures at the Bacolod airport terminals were tightened to ensure the safety of passengers, and they are still waiting for further instructions from their officials.

Laquihon said his men will strictly scrutinize all hand baggage of passengers that could be carried inside the airplane such as bottled-water and juice.