By CESAR JOLITO III
The Moises Padilla municipal government earmarked P30 million in local funds to accelerate recovery and development efforts in the wake of Typhoon “Tino,” which battered the town on November 4 last year.
The funding package was approved by the Municipal Development Council and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council during a recent joint meeting at the mayor’s office, Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo confirmed.
A key component of the plan is the establishment of a relocation site for families displaced by the typhoon, with P400,000 allotted for site development.
More than 100 families are expected to benefit from the project.
A geodetic engineer has begun subdividing the area, with proposed lot allocations set to be submitted to Sangguniang Bayan for the drafting of implementing rules and regulations.
Garcia-Yulo said beneficiaries will be required to occupy the lots for a specified period before ownership is granted, a safeguard intended to prevent future disputes.
She added that an additional hectare of land may be donated by her uncle, Eric Golez, if the initial site proves insufficient.
Beyond housing, the councils also approved P9.6 million for agricultural support programs, including swine upgrading initiatives and an irrigation project in Barangay Montilla, aimed at boosting food security and restoring rural livelihoods affected by the storm.
The local allocation complements P20 million in financial assistance from national and provincial sources — P10 million from the Office of the President and P10 million from the Negros Occidental provincial government — intended to provide direct aid to residents whose homes and livelihoods were damaged by Typhoon “Tino.”
Garcia-Yulo formally received the provincial share during a check turnover ceremony at the Provincial Capitol last week.
“Even if the amount is small, what matters is that our people will receive help,” Garcia-Yulo said, noting that the assistance may be used not only for housing repairs but also for food and other immediate recovery needs.
Final guidelines on the distribution and use of the funds are still being discussed by the councils.
Garcia-Yulo and Vice Mayor Felix Mathias Segundo “Pimpoy” Yulo III reiterated the local government’s commitment to the transparent use of public funds and the timely delivery of assistance to affected communities.
Moises Padilla is among eight local government units in Negros Occidental tapped to receive support from the P50-million assistance package from Malacañang.
La Castellana and La Carlota City each received P10 million, while Bago City, Hinigaran and Binalbagan were allocated P5 million each.
Isabela and Pontevedra received P2.5 million each./CJ, WDJ