By CESAR JOLITO III
Nearly 500 residents displaced by Typhoon “Tino” continue to stay in evacuation centers in Negros Occidental’s La Castellana town, almost two months after the storm devastated the municipality, local disaster officials said.
John de Asis, head of the La Castellana Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said the figure is down from an estimated 4,000 evacuees at the height of “Tino’s” impact, as most families have either returned home or found alternative places to stay.
Vice Mayor Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan earlier confirmed that the majority of affected residents have already left the evacuation centers, easing congestion in temporary shelters.
De Asis noted that several evacuation centers are still operating inside public schools, prompting the municipal government to seek extensions from school administrators while longer-term shelter solutions are being arranged.
“We have already requested an extension from the schools while we continue to look for other temporary shelter options. At the same time, we are exploring ways to allow face-to-face classes to resume,” he said, adding that classes remain suspended in schools still housing evacuees.
As part of its recovery efforts, the local government is preparing an 8.3-hectare relocation site in Barangay Robles, intended to accommodate at least 300 families whose homes were located in areas declared as no-build zones.
Meanwhile, around 60 families residing within the four-kilometer danger zone of Kanlaon Volcano remain displaced and are temporarily staying in their respective barangay halls.
De Asis said these families have been turned over to their barangay local government units, which have been providing assistance since July last year.
Complementing the municipal initiative, the Negros Occidental provincial government has also purchased a parcel of land in Barangay Talaptap to serve as a permanent relocation site for residents affected by Kanlaon-related hazards.
Local officials said coordination continues among municipal, barangay and provincial authorities to ensure displaced families are relocated safely while minimizing disruptions to basic services, particularly education./CJ, WDJ