The number of houses destroyed and damaged by Tropical Depression Queenie in Negros Occidental rose to 641 yesterday, with 612 located in Cauayan town.

Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said financial assistance will be provided by the provincial government Monday  to those whose houses were slammed by Queenie, but the amount was still being computed as of press time yesterday. 

The governor noted that the victims of Queenie were the poor living in houses made of light materials.

Queenie affected close to 2,000 Negrenses in two cities and four towns, Provincial Social Welfare Officer Liane Garcia said.

Strong winds battered the coastline of Cauayan town leaving 128 houses destroyed and 484 damaged, Mayor John Rey Tabujara said.        

In Binalbagan, seven houses were destroyed and six were damaged, Kabankalan – two destroyed and  five damaged,  La Castellana - one destroyed and three damaged, La Carlota City –  one destroyed, and Pulupandan – one destroyed, Garcia said.

Sipalay fisherman George Tomanyog, 54, who was reported missing as Queenie hit, was found alive in Barangay Bulata, Cauayan, yesterday, Garcia added.

Marañon said more than 100  Health Department workers and barangay captains from Negros Occidental were stranded in Iloilo Thursday when inter-island travel was cancelled because of Queenie.

This  only boosted the need for a Negros Island Region where Negrenses  can do their business with regional offices within the island, instead of having to travel by sea, he said.

The governor is pushing for the creation of an island region composed of Negros Occidental and Oriental by virtue of an executive order issued by the President of the Philippines.

Negros Occidental is currently part of Western Visayas with regional offices in Iloilo, and Negros Oriental is part of Central Visayas  with regional offices in Cebu.

Marañon is joining a Negros island region consultative hearing in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental, next week.*CPG   

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