Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo said that restoration of vital infrastructure remains the priority even as efforts to secure funding from the national government for the construction of at least two bridges to replace the Batinguel-Bagacay Spillway (BIR area) and Taclobo-Bagacay spillway (back fo Foundation University) estimated to cost almost P 1 billion continue in earnest.
He was also pleased of the report that despite the heavy flooding that affected 14 barangays, no casualty or fatality was reported.
City Social Welfare and Development Officer Ma. Carola Alquero reported that 301 families or 1, 328 individuals of Poblacion 2, Poblacion 8, Bagacay, Balugo, Bantayan, Batinguel, Bunao, Cadawinonan, Camanjac, Candau-ay, Cantil-e, Junob, Tabuc-tubig and Taclobo were affected. Twelve houses were totally destroyed while 21 were partially damaged.
To feed the evacuees, Carola activated the community kitchens and relief goods were distributed to them. Those whose homes were totally or partially damaged will be granted financial assistance by the city government.
On the other hand, City Agriculturist William Ablong reports that Typhoon Paolo devastated the livelihood of at least 32 farmers in Barangays Bajumpandan, Banilad, Camanjac, Cantil-e and Junob. Damage to crop and livestock amounted to P 678, 118.86.
Typhoon Pablo brought major destruction to the various flood control boulder dikes and spillways of Dumaguete City which requires an estimated P 40. 3 million for rehabilitation and reconstruction.
Some 33 homes were also totally or partially damaged by flood water that breached the Banica and Ocoy river banks. Mayor Felipe Antonio “Ipe” Remollo is expected to release financial assistance to validated and qualified affected residents.
City Planning and Development Coordinator Engr. Leonides Caro and Engr. Wilfredo Oira of CEO both admitted that the damage caused by Typhoon Paolo was much greater than what was sustained during Tropical Storm Sendong in 2011, which also unleashed flash floods cutting or burying several villages across Negros Oriental causing deaths and injuries.
Caro believes that many boulder dikes and spillways were destroyed due to the large trees that were uprooted in the uplands wreaking havoc to the city as logs and boulders smashed the infrastructure made of concrete and steel that eventually collapsed allowing flood waters to inundate the homes and communities along the river banks.
The rehabilitation and reconstruction work of flood control projects along Ocoy River is expected to cost P14.8 million particularly for the boulder dike from Candau-ay to Camanjac septage area.
It is proposed that thirteen (13) rehabilitation and reconstruction of boulder dikes or spillways dikes along Banica river will be undertaken by the local government in the following areas: boulder dike near Foundation University area, spillway dike going to BIR, at Villa Fortunata, Mananquil Subdivision, Habitat Candau-ay, El Pueblo, Scandinavian, Grotto Candau-ay and JICA bridge. (PIO)
