• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
Twenty-three families in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, who were severely affected by Typhoon Tino, received materials to help build their homes in Barangay San Luis on December 11.
The beneficiaries are victims who lost their homes entirely, situated in no-build zones declared by the municipality as hazard-prone areas.
In partnership with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), the local government distributed mostly light construction materials to assist residents in constructing temporary shelters. Meanwhile, the government is working on establishing a permanent relocation site for the affected families.
“This project is an essential step to ensure that the victims will have a place to stay while they recover from their losses,” Mayor Anejo Nicor said in a statement.
Vice Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Mangilimutan had told the media during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s visit to their town that the P5 million recovery fund extended by the Office of the President (OP) will primarily be allocated for purchasing a parcel of land to serve as a relocation site for the typhoon victims.
Meanwhile, Mayor Nicor stated in an interview that while some evacuees will celebrate Christmas at home, 390 families remain in evacuation centers, most of whom came from no-build zones.
Additionally, 68 families who were victimized by the Kanlaon Volcano and live within the 4-kilometer danger zone in La Castellana are still residing in evacuation centers.
Furthermore, Office of Civil Defense Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) Director Donato Sermeno III reported that all evacuees of Typhoon Tino have already decamped, except for those in La Castellana.*
