PAGASA lifted storm signal number 1 over Negros Occidental yesterday, prompting more than 70,000 evacuees to return to their homes, and for sea travel to resume.

Sea travel out of Negros Occidental halted Friday when storm signal number 1 was hoisted over the province as typhoon Ruby approached, Commander Glen Daraug, Philippine Coast Guard-Bacolod chief, said.

All storm signals over the Visayas were lifted by PAG-ASA yesterday.

Fast crafts and Roll On-Roll Off vessels resumed travel from Negros to Cebu and Panay yesterday, he said. Smaller vessels plying the Cadiz-Bantayan and Victorias-Ajuy routes will resume operations, today, he added.

Three Bacolod-Manila flights and two Manila-Bacolod flights were cancelled yesterday due to the proximity of Ruby to Manila, PAL Bacolod manager Rene Aviles said.

As operations are still in the process of normalizing with the onslaught of “Ruby”, 13 of its domestic flights will remain cancelled today, PAL announced.

The 13 one-way flights cancelled today include Manila-Bacolod 2P2913 and Manila-Dumaguete 2P2545.

Meanwhile, the 18,055 families, or 70,333 individuals who evacuated  in 21 towns and cities in Negros Occidental as Ruby approached the province, returned home yesterday, except for a few in an evacuation center in Barangay Bulanon, Sagay City, who are set to leave today, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Liane Garcia said.

The number of evacuees who returned home in Escalante City were 14,304, Calatrava - 9,418, Sagay City - 8,921, Manapla - 7,551, Victorias - 6,780, San Carlos - 4,320, Cadiz - 3,620, Bago - 3,322, Cauayan - 2,060, Moises Padilla - 2,320, Talisay - 1,819, Toboso - 1,816, Silay - 1,197, Valladolid - 837, Pontevedra - 732, EB Magalona - 516, La Carlota - 304, Pulupandan - 283, Kabankalan - 136, Salvador Benedicto - 60, and La Castellana - 17.

The provincial government, through the PSWDO, yesterday distributed 7,000 family packs containing rice, noodles, energy drink, canned sardines and coffee, Garcia said.

She said some of the evacuees had been in the centers for six days.

Her office had not received reports of damage to houses, community facilities, or of deaths from Ruby, Garcia added.

Classes were cancelled yesterday in schools where residents had been evacuated.*CPG

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