• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The Bacolod City government is set to redirect the sack of clothes unclaimed by the survivors of the Barangay 27 fire to four associations who will be repurposing the used clothing into rags.
City Administrator Atty. Mark Steven Mayo said that the associations are mostly composed of Persons With Disabilities and are past beneficiaries of the city’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).
Mayo stated that through the SLP financial assistance, the beneficiaries were able to buy sewing machines.
“They have the equipment, they have the capacity to recycle these clothes and will hopefully generate an income for them,” he said.
Mayo estimated that approximately 20-30 sacks are currently piled in an evacuation center in Barangay Vista Alegre.
“On the part of the evacuees, these clothes are not suitable for use and are due for donations with another purpose,” he added.
The clothes were collated by the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) from Apolinario Mabini Elementary School that served as the evacuation centers for the affected families.*
