BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – An estimated 95 percent of houses in Candoni, Negros Occidental were either damaged or destroyed by super typhoon “Odette”.
Nicholas Lachica, head of the Candoni Assistance Rescue and Emergency Services, appealed for urgent help, pointing out that they were receiving very little attention compared to neighboring local government units.
Candoni suffered extensive flooding between Thursday night and early Friday morning, and at least one family in the town’s Sitio Guinobatan, Barangay Caningay was swept away by floodwaters, according to Lachica in a radio interview yesterday.
Three of the family’s members survived but two others were not as lucky.
Lachica said majority of the residents were still staying in evacuation centers.
Candoni, formerly known as Tabla Valley, is a fourth-class municipality. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 23,751 people.
Candoni is located about 131 km south-south-west of the provincial capital, Bacolod City. It is approximately four hour drive from Bacolod City aboard a public utility vehicle and about two hours and 45 minutes on a private car.
From Bacolod City, buses are available at Bacolod South Terminal. From Kabankalan City, one can take the public utility jeepneys or buses going to this town.
Candoni is the third town with highest elevation in Negros Occidental after Salvador Benedicto and San Carlos City./PN
