By CESAR JOLITO III
The national government has already released P45 million in emergency assistance to six local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental, as authorities begin planning the relocation of hundreds of families displaced by Typhoon “Tino,” La Castellana Vice Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Manguilimutan said following President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s visit to the province on Saturday, November 15.
Manguilimutan said the funds were downloaded ahead of Marcos’ visit.
She confirmed that La Carlota City, Moises Padilla and La Castellana each received P10 million, while Isabela, Binalbagan and Hinigaran were allocated P5 million each.
The assistance will support immediate relief operations, infrastructure repairs and ongoing rehabilitation.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson confirmed that aside from the P45 million already released to the LGUs, the province is also set to receive an additional P50 million from the national government.
The funds, now in the provincial government’s account, may be used either for cash assistance or for housing materials for families whose homes were destroyed.
Lacson stressed that recovery from “Tino” “cannot be addressed in a short time” and will require sustained intervention.
He said Marcos assured local officials that the national government remains fully aware of the situation in Negros Occidental and other areas hit by recent calamities and will continue to extend support.
Meanwhile, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development has also turned over construction materials and committed to providing modular homes for displaced families, including those still unable to return due to Kanlaon’s permanent danger zone restrictions.
According to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) in its executive brief as of this month, a total of 218,764 families or 792,251 individuals across 31 LGUs in Negros Occidental were affected by Typhoon “Tino.”
Inside evacuation centers, 3,869 families (13,833 persons) are currently sheltered, while 46,435 families (59,306 persons) are staying outside designated evacuation sites.
Relocation
Manguilimutan said more than 300 families in La Castellana are slated for relocation, but suitable land has yet to be secured.
The first sites purchased were intended for families affected by Kanlaon Volcano’s eruption last year, so local authorities are still looking for additional relocation areas.
In Moises Padilla, 323 families lost their homes entirely due to the typhoon.
Possible relocation sites being considered include Barangays Inolingan, Quentin Remo and Magallon Cadre.
Families located within permanent danger zones will be relocated in accordance with local government implementation, based on the legal framework of Republic Act No. 10121, the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, which prohibits rebuilding in high-risk zones.
Families in Moises Padilla whose homes were totally or partially damaged but are outside the danger zones are allowed to rebuild.
While most schools are expected to resume classes next week, several classrooms remain unavailable due to structural damage or continued use as evacuation centers.
La Castellana Elementary School in Barangay Robles will not reopen next week, as hundreds of evacuees continue to take shelter there.
A total of 1,657 families or 5,819 individuals remain in 27 evacuation centers across La Castellana as clearing and relief operations continue.
Coordination with the Department of Education is ongoing to determine which classrooms can safely be used.
Damages and losses
In La Castellana, one of the hardest-hit towns, 7,760 houses were totally or partially damaged.
The town also recorded 13 deaths, 14 missing persons and four injured, based on PDRRMO’s official casualty report.
Four major bridges in La Castellana — Bungahin Bridge, Bungahin Hanging Bridge, San Luis Bridge, and Cambagting Bridge — sustained significant structural damage, contributing to the province’s total infrastructure losses amounting to P1.387 billion, which includes roads, school facilities, government buildings, irrigation, slope protection works, and other structures.
Damages to agriculture reached P158.17 million, while total losses to agriculture and livestock climbed to P202.51 million.
Typhoon “Tino” also caused P39.83 million in fisheries damage and P449,000 worth of losses in farm machineries.
On Saturday, President Marcos inspected damaged areas in Moises Padilla and La Castellana, including schools, bridges, and evacuation centers.
He later presided over a situational briefing at the La Castellana Municipal Hall with Cabinet secretaries, national agencies and local officials to assess damage and ongoing rehabilitation efforts./CJ, WDJ