The Office of Civil Defense (OCD-6) on Tuesday, Sept. 17, said five deaths and one missing were officially recorded in Western Visayas due to the combined effects of the enhanced southwest monsoon, Tropical Storm Ferdie and Tropical Depression Gener.
The fatalities, all from drowning, were recorded in Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, Bacolod City, and Hinoba-an in Negros Occidental, while the missing individual is from Sipalay City in Negros Occidental.
in an interview, OCD Regional Director Raul Fernandez called on those staying in hazard-prone areas to voluntarily evacuate when necessary so that responders will not get overwhelmed.
“We are advising the public to be vigilant, always listen to advisories, and cooperate for their safety and the safety of our rescuers and responders since their life is also at stake,” he said.
Fernandez said the response cluster of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is ready to provide the immediate needs of affected families in the worst hit areas in Antique and Negros Occidental.
“We are already organizing delivery of non-food items (NFIs). We have prepositioned NFIs in Camp Fullon in Antique. We have goods in Iloilo that we can deliver,” he added. Perla Lena/PNA
