Bacolod City is now under a state of calamity
The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlalawigan Thursday afternoon, November 6, approved the request of Mayor Greg Gasataya and the recommendation of the Bacolod Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (BDRRMC) for its declaration following the widespread damage left by Typhoon “Tino”.
“We need to implement a price freeze, which is essential during a calamity. We also understand the situation of our barangays whose funds have been depleted and can no longer sustain the needs of evacuees and affected families,” Gasataya said.
Councilor Dindo Ramos said the declaration will allow barangays to immediately utilize 30 percent of their quick response fund from their 5 percent calamity fund.
In addition, the local government can also access its 30 percent Quick Response Fund of the 5 percent calamity fund and Trust Fund to speed up relief and recovery efforts, he said.
Acting Vice-Mayor Caesar Distrito added that the city can now extend financial assistance to families displaced by the typhoon.
“It was unprecedented,” Distrito said as he recounted how the storm surge wiped out several houses on stilts along the coastline of Barangay Singcang-Airport, where he once served as punong barangay.
“This was the most devastating storm in the past decade,” he said.
The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) reported that 7,895 families or 27,401 individuals underwent preemptive evacuation, which resulted in zero casualties during the typhoon.
Department of Social Services and ]Development (DSSD) Head Richelle Verdeprado-Mangga said the city is preparing long-term support for displaced families.
“We are also considering those who were affected outside evacuation centers and need immediate recovery assistance,” she added.
The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) reported that 266 houses were destroyed and 2,028 were damaged in Bacolod, mostly due to storm surges in coastal areas, strong winds, and fallen trees.
The Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO), together with BENRO, BFP, CEO, BCPO, the 303rd Infantry Brigade, and private rescue groups, continue massive clearing operations across major roads and barangays.