By CESAR JOLITO III
The Hinigaran municipal government will release a total of P9.5 million in aid to families who lost their homes due to Typhoon “Tino,” combining the P5 million assistance from the Office of the President (OP) with an additional P4.5 million from the local government.
Vice Mayor Nadi Arceo said the local government is moving forward with fund distribution despite delays in processing some of the required documentation.
“Our P5 million will be released to the victims, and we have added another P4.5 million from the local government unit’s funds,” Arceo said, emphasizing that the cash assistance will go directly to affected families.
Arceo noted that while documents are important for record-keeping and formal approval, the decision to release funds ultimately rests with the mayor.
“Whether it’s to buy food, rice or allocate for recovery efforts, the local government will ensure that aid reaches those in need,” he explained.
According to Mayor Grace Arceo’s issued statement, 3,180 families whose homes were completely destroyed will each receive P3,000 in cash assistance.
The aid is specifically for families with fully destroyed houses and is separate from support provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Other municipalities in Negros Occidental also received presidential assistance: Binalbagan and Isabela each got P5 million, while La Castellana, La Carlota City and Moises Padilla each received P10 million. The provincial government received P50 million.
The release of funds has been delayed due to pending documents and signatures, including that of former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who resigned on November 17.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has deployed a representative to the OP to expedite the processing of these documents, ensuring that the aid can finally be disbursed.
This initiative underscores the local government’s commitment to providing immediate relief to residents affected by Typhoon “Tino,” even amid procedural and bureaucratic hurdles./CJ, WDJ