The Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) has approved the proposed P500 million in assistance for the victims of Typhoon “Odette” and other disasters.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson presided over the PDRRMC Regular Meeting held at the Capitol Social Hall on Tuesday, January 4, attended by council members, in the presence of board members Juvy Pepello and Rita Gatuslao; Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz; PDRRMC Secretariat Head, Dr. Ma. Lina Sanogal; and Disaster Management Program Division Head, Dr. Zeaphard Caelian, among others.

The said assistance will be sourced out from the Contingent Fund and other sources for endorsement to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

The council has also approved P13.8 million worth of shelter assistance to be sourced from the DRRM Trust Fund.

Earlier on Monday, January 3, Lacson said the provincial government has already received P41-million financial assistance from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) for the rebuilding of houses damaged during the onslaught of Typhoon “Odette” on December 16, 2021.

Lacson said the amount, which has been deposited into the provincial government’s bank account, is in addition to the P90 million cash aid turned over by the National Housing Authority (NHA) to the provincial government last week.

“The instruction of the President is to release these funds immediately so that is what we will do,” Lacson said, adding that each typhoon-hit family will receive a maximum of P5,000 each.

Typhoon “Odette” left 190,868 houses partially damaged and 65,871 houses totally destroyed in Negros Occidental.

Worst-hit were several areas in southern Negros, including the cities of Kabankalan and Sipalay as well as the municipalities of Ilog, Candoni, Cauayan, and Hinobaan, which experienced strong winds, heavy rains, and widespread floods.

Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council data also showed that “Odette” left some P6-billion damage across all sectors. (With a report from PNA)/WDJ