Christmas was bleak for
113 Cadiz families
As waves, wind destroy 28 houses, damage 95
BY CARLA GOMEZ

It was not a Merry Christmas for 113 families in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, Sunday.

Strong winds accompanied by big waves during high tide lashed the shores of 10 barangays of Cadiz at about 10 p.m. of December 24 leaving 28 houses destroyed and 95 damaged, City Social Welfare Officer Elena Sereneas said yesterday

The houses were located along the shorelines of Barangays 1 to 6, Banquerohan, Daga, Sicaba and Tiglawigan, Mayor Patrick Escalante said.

Stabbing, drowning and shooting incidents and vehicular accidents marred the Christmas celebration in Bacolod City, with two people dead and 13 injured.

Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz, city police director, however, assessed the Christmas Day celebration in Bacolod as generally peaceful and said these incidents were isolated ones.

De la Paz also said there were no untoward incidents reported during the observance of the 9-day dawn masses.

The Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council unanimously approved a resolution Thursday extending financial assistance of P1.250 million to the Cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan and the Province of Negros Oriental that were severely affected by tropical storm Sendong.

The amount, which includes administrative costs, will be taken from the 30 percent Quick response Fund of the 2011 Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said the council has approved P500,000 for Cagayan de Oro, P500,000 for Iligan, P200,000 for Negros Oriental and P50,000 for administrative cost.