• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
The Provincial Government of Negros Occidental is set to distribute the P50 million Presidential Assistance Fund (PAF) to the local government units (LGUs) affected by typhoon Tino in the province.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II disclosed yesterday that Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has already submitted his recommendations to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) on the distribution of the funds.
Most of the fund will be allocated to the towns of Moises Padilla, La Castellana, and La Carlota City, which will receive P10 million each. Those three LGUs have suffered severe losses in lives and property.
Meanwhile, Bago City, Hinigaran, and Binalbagan are recommended to receive P5 million each, and P2.5 million each for Isabela and Pontevedra.
“The allocations were based on the numbers of families affected by Bagyo Tino,” Diaz stressed.
He further said that the province initially suggested rolling out P5,000 for every affected family, regardless of the extent of damage. However, the governor pushed to leave the distribution with the local chief executives.
After a series of documentation delays, Diaz said that the Deed of Donation of the P50 million presidential fund has been received by the province, allowing them to distribute the fund to the affected LGUs.
The release was previously on hold due to discrepancies in the required signatures, including that of former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who resigned from his post on November 17, 2025.*
