• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo confirmed Nov. 19 the availability of a one-hectare relocation site for 362 families in Barangay Inolingan.
The homes of these families were destroyed by flooding, triggered by heavy rains during Typhoon Tino.
Yulo said the relocation site, which will be donated by her uncle, Eric Golez, will be given for free to the homeless families.
During a meeting yesterday at the municipal auditorium with affected residents and barangay officials, Yulo said the national government has designated the former residential areas of the 362 households as no-build zones due to life-threatening risks.
Yulo said the lot donation will allow faster development of the area, compared to purchasing a land, which requires lengthy documentation.
The mayor said the availment of home relocation is voluntary.
To support housing construction, Yulo said she will seek additional assistance from the Negros Occidental provincial government and 5th District Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo to secure building materials.
She said the P10-million cash aid from the Presidential Assistance Fund given to Moises Padilla will be used to finance high-impact community projects, such as the repair of the hanging footbridge between barangays Guinpana-an and Quintin Remo, or the procurement of housing materials for the relocation site.
With limited resources, the mayor asked town residents to participate in community labor to accelerate the construction of their new homes.
Yulo said the municipal government is considering modular learning as an immediate solution while families recover, noting that many students are not yet ready to return to face-to-face classes. | GB
