Capitol sending aid to conflict-hit city

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental Provincial Rayfrando Diaz said the provincial government is sending relief supplies to the residents who were displaced due to the gun battle between government forces and the New People’s Army (NPA) in a hinterland barangay in Himamaylan City.

This, as the Sanggunian Panlungsod of Himamaylan on Monday placed the city under a state of calamity upon the recommendation of Mayor Raymund Tongson and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC).

With this, the city government is allowed to utilize the Quick Response Fund and enables the release of national calamity funds to agencies involved in relief operations, Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao said.

Diaz said they are sending food packs and hygiene kits to the more than 15,000 individuals who are currently staying in seven evacuation centers.

The Provincial Health Office (PHO) also sent doctors and nurses to check on the health of the evacuees.

Water provided to evacuees is also being thoroughly checked to prevent any outbreaks of water-borne illnesses such as cholera, he said.

“We are hoping and praying nga ang aton nga clashes dira sa Himamaylan between the [Armed Forces of the Philippines], and the NPA will soon come to an end para makabalik na ang aton mga pumuluyo sa ila mga panimalay,” Diaz said.

Diaz said the number of evacuees remains at 15,000 and they are expecting 303rd Infantry Brigade (303IBde) commander Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte to submit his report soon to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.

Residents in the area fled their homes last week after government forces stumbled on an alleged NPA harboring area at Sitio Sig-ang in Barangay Carabalan.

The 15,000 evacuees are residents of barangays Carabalan, Cabadiangan, and 3.

Among the food items sent to the evacuees are 10 sacks of rice, 240 family food packs, five boxes of fortified meals, 10 boxes of corned beef, 10 boxes of beef loaf, and five boxes of arroz caldo.