Valencia in Negros Oriental has declared a hinterland barangay there under a state of calamity after the landslide Tuesday that displaced at least 17 families.

The Sangguniang Bayan declared Brgy. Caidiocan Thursday under a state of calamity, as the government began relief and rehabilitation of areas affected by the landslide.

Victims are temporarily housed at a day care center and barangay hall while some were taken in by their relatives.

No casualties were reported.

The landslide also caused damages to farmlands in the area. A 125-meter concrete road leading to the plant site of the Philippine National Oil Company also collapsed Tuesday.

Caidiocan is one of the host barangays of PNOC’s geothermal operations, officer-in-charge Vicente Omandan of PNOC said.

Valencia Mayor Rodolfo Gonzalez Jr. immediately created a task force led by Caidiocan Barangay Captain Nestor Timosan to provide immediate assistance to the victims and to monitor the situation.

Gonzalez, who also sits as chairman of the municipal disaster coordinating council, surveyed of the damaged area Wednesday.

Action Officer Angelito Ramada of the Valencia Municipal Disaster Coordinating Council initially pegged the damage to properties and crops at P4 million, although the amount is expected to go higher after an assessment of the damage is finalized.

Continuous rains brought by tropical depression “Butchoy” are believed to have caused the landslide.

Geologists and design engineers are now reassessing the affected area as the road leading to the plant site of PNOC remains impassable. The landslide also damaged one of the re-injection pipes of PNOC-EDC but did not affect the operation of the site.

The Association of Barangay Captains in Valencia led by Chit Teves extended food supplies to the victims Thursday.

Valencia, through the Social Welfare Office and the PNOC distributed food supplies to the victims a few hours after the incident.*JG

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