By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The provincial government of Negros Occidental has allocated a supplemental budget of P50 million which would be used for the rehabilitation of houses destroyed by super typhoon “Odette.”

Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, provincial administrator, said the decision came after mayors from the affected areas asked the provincial government to help them with the houses that were either destroyed or damaged.

The budget came with the approval of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the resolution of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) declaring the province under a state of calamity.

Diaz said the budget will be distributed to the towns and cities that were directly impacted by the super typhoon.

“It will not be in the form of cash assistance to the victims but instead the local government unit will purchase materials like GI sheets, woods and nails,” Diaz explained.

However, he pointed out the amount will not be enough to cover all the needs of those whose houses were damaged.

Areas in southern Negros, particularly the sixth district comprising the cities of Kabankalan and Sipalay as well as the municipalities of Ilog, Candoni, Cauayan, and Hinobaan, were the hardest-hit after experiencing strong winds, heavy rains, and widespread floods brought by super typhoon “Odette” which slammed into the province on December 16.

Negros Occidental has so far reported 34 fatalities due to “Odette” while total losses in the province are pegged at close to P6 billion./DGB, WDJ