BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The rehabilitation effort of the provincial government of Negros Occidental on typhoon-affected areas got a boost after it received yesterday P90 million assistance from the National Housing Authority (NHA)
John Leo Solinap, NHA –Region 6 Chief Corporate Attorney, and Engr. Liezl Miquit, NHA-Negros Occidental District officer-in-charge, yesterday turned over the P90 million cheque to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, in a ceremony held at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City, which was witnessed by some local chief executives.
Almost two weeks after typhoon Odette brought devastation to Negros Occidental, Lacson said the need to rebuild the 190,868 partially damaged houses and 65,871 destroyed homes is urgent.
For many of the displaced Negrense families, the trauma and suffering is unbearable, Lacson, who recently visited badly-hit cities of Kabankalan and Sipalay, said. “It is extremely taxing for families to try rebuilding their homes, while starving and thirsty”, he stressed.
Lacson said that the Bureau of Treasury allocated P41 million for the provincial government, with various local government units also given notice that the financial assistance has been also downloaded to their respective accounts.
But he said that they are still awaiting guidelines from BOT for its use.
Lacson thanked President Rodrigo Duterte and NHA for their timely response to the dire need of Negrenses to restore their homes.
In a year of unprecedented threats to humanity, we are grateful to everyone who extended assistance and help, he said. However, a lot of Negrenses still need emergency help such as power and food, aside from shelter, Lacson said.
While the year 2021 opened with massive flood in the 3rd district and ended with massive typhoon, with the COVID-19 pandemic in between, Lacson said “we will able to respond to the needs, or situation that was presented to us.”
He rallied local chief executives to continue enhancing coordination, and to ensure a systematic manner of distribution of assistance being needed by their respective constituents.
As we are about to enter a brand-new year, I am confident that we will able to recover. As long as we do our job with purposeful intent, with the Negrense spirit of togetherness, we will be able to carry this through, Lacson said.*
