Over 700 evacuate in Moises Padilla amid Verbena

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — More than 700 families have taken shelter in evacuation centers across Moises Padilla as Tropical Depression Verbena continues to affect Negros Occidental, with local authorities confirming zero casualties or missing persons as of Tuesday.

Municipal Executive Assistant Conrad Garcia credited the smooth evacuation to the preemptive order issued by Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo early Monday morning.

“[The] mayor already ordered preemptive evacuation early Monday morning,” Garcia said. “So far, almost everyone cooperated, especially those in the crossing area, Barangay 1, and Barangay 3—areas previously affected by flooding. We have no problem evacuating them this time.”

He added that recent experience with Typhoon Tino likely influenced residents’ readiness.

“Yes, I believe so,” he said. “People were probably traumatized by what happened during Tino when the water rose very quickly.”

Despite rainfall from Verbena, Garcia clarified that current conditions differ from the devastation caused by Typhoon Tino.

“The situation, though, between Tino and Verbena is far different — the water has risen, but it’s not the same as during Tino when the river really overflowed,” he said. “We don’t have flooding so far this time.”

Moises Padilla was among the worst-hit municipalities in Negros Occidental during Typhoon Tino.

The latest figures show that 760 families — or 2,733 individuals — are staying in evacuation centers, including 437 families evacuated due to Verbena and 272 families who remain displaced from Typhoon Tino.

Evacuation centers include the Moises Padilla Elementary School, San Isidro Academy, Central Philippine State University, and the municipality’s main evacuation facility.

Others are housed in their respective barangay centers.

On Tuesday morning, breakfast was distributed to 496 families from the Poblacion barangays and Barangay Crossing Magallon.

Garcia said the local government is assisting two categories of evacuees: those displaced by Tropical Depression Verbena and those who lost homes during Typhoon Tino.

Both groups continue to receive food packs and essential aid coordinated through their Barangay Local Government Units, with ongoing support from the municipal government.

Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo and Vice Mayor Felix Mathias Segundo “Pimpoy” Yulo III assured residents that the local government remains fully mobilized to provide immediate aid to all affected families.

On Monday night, Nov. 24, the mayor and vice mayor personally delivered 500 ready-to-eat food boxes from the Department of Social Welfare and Development to evacuation centers across the municipality.

The food boxes, provided through Congressman Dino Yulo, were pre-positioned to ensure evacuees had breakfast the following morning, with Tropical Depression Verbena expected to make landfall around 5 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25.

Relief operations continue in Moises Padilla, with officials urging residents to remain alert as the storm persists.