CLEARING OPERATIONS. Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) personnel conduct clearing operations in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental province on Wednesday (July 26, 2023). The southwestern monsoon enhanced by Typhoon Egay triggered heavy rainfall and strong winds during the past few days. (Photo from Canlaon City LDRRMO's Facebook page)
DUMAGUETE CITY – Rescuers have recovered the body of a 23-year-old male believed to have drowned at a river in Barangay Mabato, Ayungon in Negros Oriental while his companion remains missing, the police reported on Wednesday.
The Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office identified the body as that of Velmark Caliguid Mojares, single, of Barangay Nalundan of Bindoy town, Negros Oriental province.
Responders from the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (LDRRMO) and other volunteer rescuers are still searching for his companion, John Mark Amarante Aneñabo, 20, single, also of Sitio Abaca, Barangay Nalundan.
Initial investigation disclosed that the two were on board a motorcycle Tuesday evening en route to Mabato to attend the birthday celebration of a relative.
The motorcycle they were riding was found near the spillway at Sitio Manlawaan in Barangay Mabato.
They are the first casualties reported in the province in the midst of stormy weather in the past few days due to the southwest monsoon enhanced by Typhoon Egay.
In Bais City, at least 18 families, comprising 65 individuals, evacuated from Sitio San Jose Tavera and Tambacan on Tuesday evening, a social media post of the local government unit said. The local police said they returned home the following day.
In Canlaon City, more families have also evacuated following heavy rains although Engr. Judith Artigas, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (CDRMMO) chief, declined an interview as she was still busy attending to the evacuees at press time.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) in its first situation report said there was minimal damage in Negros Oriental despite the bad weather.
Fallen trees were reported in Tanjay City, Dumaguete City, Guihulngan City and Zamboanguita.
PDRRMO executive director Adrian Sedillo said the continuous rains and strong winds in the past days, as projected by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), continue to pose a threat in the province.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) also suspended more trips out of the nearby island-province of Siquijor, bound for Dumaguete and Tagbilaran ports, due to bad weather.
This is the third day that the PCG had suspended trips to nearby islands, as well as issuing an order banning sea vessels with a gross tonnage of 250 or less from venturing out to sea. (PNA)
