BACOLOD CITY — The southwest monsoon enhanced by Typhoon Inday displaced 1,115 families comprising 3,349 individuals across 42 barangays in Negros Occidental.
The Philippines experiences an average of 20 typhoons annually, making the region highly susceptible to severe seasonal flooding.
The national government frequently mobilizes calamity funds, often exceeding PHP 50,000,000 per affected region, to support emergency response and infrastructure recovery efforts.
Data from the Office of Civil Defense for the Negros Island Region showed La Castellana and Pontevedra recorded the highest number of affected families at 399 and 269, respectively.
- Isabela reported 174 displaced families.
- Moises Padilla recorded 98 affected families.
- Binalbagan tallied 70 families forced to evacuate.
- La Carlota registered 40 displaced families.
- San Enrique reported 28 affected families.
- Bago City documented 18 displaced families.
- Sipalay City recorded 10 affected families.
- Hinoba-an accounted for nine displaced families.
Authorities temporarily sheltered a recorded 1,314 families, or 2,554 individuals, in 39 evacuation centers.
An additional 115 families, or 440 individuals, received assistance outside these evacuation sites.
Local governments reported widespread flooding in Pontevedra, Isabela, La Castellana and Moises Padilla.
In neighboring Negros Oriental, Canlaon City officials preemptively evacuated 112 families to ensure their safety.
The Philippine Coast Guard reported nine stranded passengers in Negros Oriental as of Saturday.
Monsoon winds and rain damaged a total of 18 houses across Negros Occidental.
Sipalay City reported nine partially damaged homes and one completely destroyed residence.
Hinoba-an recorded eight partially damaged houses.
In Bacolod City, a section of the Burgos Public Cemetery perimeter wall collapsed Friday night amid heavy rains.
This same wall section along Lopez Jaena Street previously gave way last year during Typhoon Tino.
Mayor Greg Gasataya inspected the site Saturday alongside officials from the City Engineer’s Office and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Authorities temporarily closed a portion of Lopez Jaena Street for clearing operations.
Officials advised motorists to exercise caution while navigating the affected area.
Gasataya ordered emergency personnel to secure the site and maintain strict monitoring to protect public safety.
He also mandated the trimming of nearby trees that likely contributed to the structural failure.
This collapse occurred as Bacolod City prepares to relocate approximately 450 sets of human remains from deteriorating tombs at the cemetery.
These remains will be transferred to a newly constructed bone vault at the Handumanan Public Cemetery to resolve longstanding safety hazards.
More than 100 families previously attended a July 7 dialogue at the Bacolod City Government Center to discuss this planned relocation.
Representatives from the General Services Office and the City Administrator’s Office facilitated the community consultation.
City Administrator Mark Mayo stated the relocation project will create wider sidewalks, improve pedestrian access and add green spaces.
Mayo noted that a local ordinance legally authorizes the removal of dilapidated cemetery structures that pose hazards or obstruct public access.
To bolster disaster response, the Police Regional Office for the Negros Island Region deployed 702 personnel.
These officers were assigned to evacuation centers, vital installations, search and rescue teams, and the Reactionary Standby Support Force.
Typhoon Inday is currently moving away from the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
Regional police remain on heightened alert to monitor weather conditions and assist affected communities. (Glazyl M. Jopson via tdg photo by tdg)