Death toll at 37; P357-M damages in NegOr

THE death toll climbed to 37 while damage to infrastructure was pegged at P357 million in Negros Oriental in the wake of Tropical Storm Sendong.

Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo appealed for help from neighboring provinces in Central Visayas for hundreds of displaced families.

“I am asking Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto and the people of Cebu to extend their assistance through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD),” Degamo said.

Degamo said his people need potable water, canned goods and rice, clothes and toiletries.

The DSWD-7 office initially sent 100 sacks of rice and canned goods. The cities and towns in Negros Oriental’s second district were badly affected, he said.

Degamo said initial data showed that in Tanjay, 235 families were evacuated and 5,000 families were affected.

At least 636 families were also displaced in Sibulan along with 2,000 families in Valencia and 1,244 families in Dumaguete City.

The displaced families were temporarily placed in schools, gyms and churches. Correspondent Jhunnex Napallacan