By CESAR JOLITO III
Negros Occidental’s post-Typhoon “Tino” recovery efforts intensified yesterday as Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian led a high-level coordination meeting with Negros Island officials.
This comes as the Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) reported that total damage from “Tino” has climbed past P1.8 billion, with massive destruction recorded across 569 barangays from November 4 to 5.
Gatchalian met with Negros Occidental mayors, Negros Oriental’s Canlaon City Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas and 1st District Representative Emmanuel Iway, as well as representatives from Negros Occidental — Dino Yulo (5th District) and Jeffrey Ferrer (4th District) — to assess ongoing relief needs.
In a media ambush, Gatchalian said President Marcos, Jr. instructed him to personally oversee typhoon-hit regions.
“Get the attention that they deserve … maramdaman nila wala kaming inuuna. Lahat kayo importante,” Gatchalian said yesterday.
“This whole week I have been going around with the President. Nauna lang ako dito kasi I have to meet the local chief executives to see what else we can do,” he added.
The secretary explained that visiting affected localities in person allows him to understand the “peculiarities” of each community’s damage, noting that impacts differed significantly among Southern Leyte, La Castellana town, and other affected areas.
Gatchalian also emphasized the scale of the national relief effort: 1.2 million food boxes will be distributed nationwide in two weeks, while 44,000 to 50,000 food boxes will be allocated for Negros Occidental alone.
Gatchalian said the DSWD will continue to provide burial assistance, relief goods and other interventions based on local government unit-specific needs.
“We are planning to go to as many places as we can … Importante maintindihan namin how hard they were hit, para tama ang intervention,” he stressed.
Officials hope to accelerate rebuilding efforts across Negros Occidental’s hardest-hit communities.
Marcos to arrive today
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson confirmed that President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. is expected to visit the province today, if weather permits.
The President’s visit is anticipated to boost national support and accelerate rehabilitation planning for worst-hit areas such as Bago City, and the municipalities of La Castellana, Moises Padilla and Hinigaran.
The localities, including Talisay City, recorded the highest casualty counts, as the total fatalities due to “Tino” in the Negros Island Region reached 105, with 42 missing and 237 injured.
Search and retrieval operations to locate missing individuals continue./CJ, WDJ