• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The Bacolod Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) continues to validate the extensive damage left by Typhoon Tino.
The DSSD has validated 24 of the city’s 61 barangays, with the current tally showing that 970 houses are damaged.
DSSD head Dr. Richelle Verdeprado-Mangga, however, expects the figure to increase as the validation is ongoing in the remaining areas.
Due to the number of affected properties, the DSSD is also reviewing its criteria, which currently defines totally damaged as 100 percent loss and partially damaged as 50 percent loss, to possibly add a slightly damaged category.
In a press briefing, Mayor Greg Gasataya reported that a total of 29,658 individuals, or 8,729 families, were evacuated across the city at the height of the typhoon.
A total of 99 evacuation centers were opened to accommodate the large number of evacuees, with 346 families or 1,178 individuals, who have yet to return home and remain housed in various shelters.*
