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.

The losses were in Binalbagan (fishpond) - P82,450, Hinigaran (palay) - P265,541.25, La Carlota City (palay) - P66,430, San Enrique (palay) - P300,000, Valladolid (palay and vegetables) P894,439, Pulupandan (palay and vegetables) P446,500 and Bago City (palay) - P1,315, 621.

Damage to poultry in Binalbagan and San Enrique was placed at P174,000.

San Enrique Mayor Jilson Tubillara said that as of yesterday, 19 houses had been damaged and four destroyed in his town. He said big waves that lashed the shorelines of Barangay Tibsoc caused additional damage to houses in San Enrique, while a bridge in Barangay Nayon was about to collapse.

Mayor Ricardo Presbitero said as of 3 p.m. yesterday total damage to crops and properties in his town was P5.7 million.

Valladolid had 56 houses destroyed and 266 damaged, he said.

Also damaged were seven motorboats, he added.

All rescue units and the police are still on red alert status as we closely monitor the situation, he said.

Pulupandan Mayor Luis Mondia said a state of calamity is set to be declared in his town during a special Sanggunian session Monday.

As of yesterday 14 houses had been destroyed and 1,221 had been damaged as flooding continued in Pulupandan

This is the worst flooding that has hit Pulupandan because of the continuous flow of water from the upland areas and the big waves lashing the shorelines during high tide since Pulupandan is below sea level, Mondia said.

Meanwhile, in Sitio Bagtic, Barangay Bulwangan, Hinoba-an town, six crewmen of a fishing vessel from Jolo were rescued, DYEZ Aksyon Radyo reported.

Provincial Social Welfare Officer Liane Garcia said the provincial government has so far provided 295 sacks of rice, 136 boxes of noodles and 160 boxes of sardines in assistance to the flood hit areas, on top of what the local government units have already given.*CPG

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