• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Six local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental affected by Typhoon Tino will receive P45 million in financial aid from the national government.
This was on top of the P50 million cash assistance earlier announced by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for Negros Occidental, which aims to bolster the recovery and rehabilitation efforts across the province. During the inspection of typhoon-affected areas in Binalbagan, La Castellana, La Carlota City and Moises Padilla on Tuesday, Nov. 11, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco and Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said they were sent by the President to ensure that that the national government provides all the necessary assistance to the affected communities and the people to maintain a strong presence during the recovery effort.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the President granted the Presidential Assistance Fund of P10 million each to the municipalities of La Castellana and Moises Padilla as well as La Carlota City, and P5 million each for Isabela, Hinigaran and Binalbagan towns.
In Negros Occidental, damage to infrastructures, agricultural crops, livestock and fisheries reached more than P605 million as of Nov. 11 as reported by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) and Department of Agriculture.
Typhoon Tino also claimed 64 lives, left 68 persons missing, and 153 others injured.
In a report, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said it distributed P8.298 million worth of food packs and various kits, while the Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development provided the affected local government units with an initial 100 shelter grade tarpaulins.
PDRRMO records showed a total of 14,549 families, comprising 55,003 people, remain in evacuation centers.
Some 7,876 houses were destroyed while 49,382 others were partially damaged, it added. | GB
