Two quake-hit Negros Oriental towns now under state of calamity

Two towns in Negros Oriental province — Jimalalud and La Libertad — were placed under a state of calamity after being hit by a magnitude-6.9 earthquake on Monday.   A report of the news site Visayan Daily Star on Thursday said the state of calamity was declared after officials assessed the quake's damage to infrastructure and agriculture. Jimalalud Mayor Reynaldo Tuanda, head of the league of municipalities in Negros Oriental, estimated the damage to agriculture at P10 million and to roads and bridges at P1 billion.  Eight residents of Jimalalud were reported killed while two persons from Barangay Balaas were said to be missing: Anecio Ganolon and Romeo Fabillar. The quake rendered a bridge in Barangay Dayoyo impassable and isolated the rest of the municipalities going north up to barangay Martilo in La Libertad and so on to Guihulngan City.   The Visayan Daily Star report quoted Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong (Negros Oriental) as saying the declaration of a state of calamity will allow local authorities to use calamity funds to assist the victims. - VVP, GMA News