Flood death toll rises to 3

BY FELIPE V. CELINO

ROXAS City — A body of a man believed to have drowned for crossing a river in Dao, Capiz was recovered recently.

The man, whose body was already under the state of decomposition, is still unidentified, according to Senior Supt. Jose Daradar, action officer of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC).

This is the third casualty recorded amid the flood that hit the province last week.

The first two were in the municipalities of Sapian and Panitan.

Recent PDMMRC records revealed that flood hit some 138 villages in the province, affecting 7,541 families or 38,173 individuals.

As of 4 p.m. the other day, 522 houses partially damaged by flood while 375 persons remained in the evacuation centers set up by the different towns, Daradar said.

On the other hand, the City Council is set to declare 22 barangays in this city under a state of calamity.
Acting City Social Welfare officer Lorelie Suelo recommended to Mayor Angel Alan Celino and the City Council the declaration so the city can use its Calamity Fund for relief operations.

Coastal barangays, and those near fishponds, were hardly hit by flood, Suelo said.

She also requested for the purchase of additional 30 sacks of rice, 30 cartoons of noodles and 20 cartoons of sardines.

The provincial government, Department of Social Welfare and Development and other concerned government agencies provided relief assistance to the affected families.

Atty. Jose Villanueva, acting provincial administrator, said flood has started to subside in different low-lying areas in the province.

Most of the evacuees already returned to their homes, he said.

The PDRRMC will still have to determine the flood’s extent of damage to infrastructure, crops and properties./PN

Fisherman stabbed

BY FELIPE CELINO

ROXAS City — A 32-year-old fisherman was stabbed at the Libas Fishing Port in Brgy. Libas here recently.

Dade Fuentes was rushed to the Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital but died upon arrival, according to a resident there.

Fuentes, a fishing vessel crew, sustained fatal stab wounds on the neck, right eyebrow and other parts of the body.

Prior to the incident, the victim said he and his friends Richard Escosio and Jing Cortel are going to have a drinking binge at the port, police said.

However, the two left for home ahead of Fuentes, said the police.

The police are yet to determine the suspects’ identity and their motive for committing the crime./PN

Ivisan tops 2010 Capiz GPK search

ROXAS City — Ivisan town outshines other municipalities in Capiz in this year’s Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran (GPK) provincial competition.

In the same search last year, Ivisan won second to Panay town, Interior and Local Government Provincial Director Helen Mestidio disclosed.

With an average rating of 97.97 percent, the municipality of Ivisan bested other 14 towns.

Panay was already disqualified in this year’s search for having won first for three consecutive years last year, she said.

Dumarao, Cuartero, Panitan, Maayon and Dao towns won the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth places, respectively.

A cash prize of P150,000 and a trophy will be given to the first place winner while P125,000; P100,000; P75,000; P50,000; and P25,000 plus trophies will be respectively given to the second to sixth placers.

A consolation prize of P10,000 cash award will likewise be given to the remaining 10 municipalities.

Mestidio said DILG Western Visayas Director Evelyn Trompeta and Gov. Victor Tanco graced the “Pagdayaw sa Capiz 2010” awarding and recognition ceremony yesterday. (Jemin B. Guillermo/PIA/PN)