Negros Occidental plunged into darkness

POWER has not been restored in Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, Friday night even several hours after Typhoon Yolanda hit the province.

The power blackout were reported encompassed areas covered by Central Negros Electric Cooperative, including Bacolod, and areas in south Negros under the Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative and in the north covered by VMC Rural Electric Service Cooperative.

“The whole province is without electricity although I am happy that there are no reports on casualties yet but damages to houses and properties reached unparalleled level,” Governor Alfredo Maraņon Jr. said in a statement Friday night.

The governor added: “This is the worst and the strongest typhoon or calamity that had hit Negros Occidental to date.”

Maraņon said the Provincial Government will focus next on response and rehabilitation efforts.

Eric Villaluna, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Disaster Management Program Division, said it paid off that the Provincial Government called for a preemptive evacuation two days before Typhoon “Yolanda” arrived.

The move prevented possible casualties or loss of lives, he said.

Villaluna said that even if the typhoon is already on its way out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility, residents near the coastal areas or residing close to waterways, still should not take chances

Source:-
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/lo...arkness-312826