Sagay city: Students of the Visual Arts Program at Sagay National High School are selling artworks to raise funds for families displaced by recent flashfloods in Sagay City, Negros Occidental.

According to Philippines News Agency, the initiative involves an art-for-a-cause campaign, where selected student artworks are auctioned to support the affected community.

The students and their teachers highlighted the urgent needs of many families in their community, expressing hope that this initiative would provide meaningful and respectful assistance. They emphasized that the effort uses art not only as a form of expression but also as a means of action and solidarity.

Two artworks are currently up for bidding: "The Heart of the Home" by Frances Keziah Peacita and "The Rural Ambiance" by Shane Ramirez. Both pieces, sized at 13' x 17', are created using acrylic on unstretched canvas. The starting bid is set at PHP1,500, with a minimum increment of PHP150. The bidding period commenced on Tuesday morning and is scheduled to conclude at 8 p.m. on February 7.

Participation in the bidding is voluntary, and all proceeds from the initiative are intended to assist individuals and families affected by the floods. Sagay City, located in northern Negros, was one of the areas hit by heavy rains and floods triggered by a shear line on the night of January 31. At least 340 families, amounting to 1,261 individuals from four barangays, sought refuge in ten evacuation centers, as reported by the city government.

The statement from the city government expressed concern for the families along the Himoga-an River impacted by flash floods, acknowledging the severe effect on several riverside communities. In addition to the four villages, Himoga-an Baybay also experienced significant devastation.

As affected residents start to rebuild their lives, the city government emphasized the importance of support and assistance for recovery efforts.