The need for houses for thousands of displaced Negrenses and the repair of vital infrastructure such as roads and bridges to restore livelihoods were raised by local officials during the visit of two Cabinet secretaries to Negros Occidental on Tuesday, Nov. 11, to assess the devastation caused by Typhoon Tino.
Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco and Education Secretary Sonny Angara visited the typhoon hit areas in Negros Occidental after a situation briefing by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson with Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer (Neg. Occ., 4th District) and Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo (Neg. Occ., 5th District) at the Capitol in Bacolod City.
“All of these needs that they have communicated, we will relay to the president in order that assistance may be given,” Frasco said.
“We were sent here upon the directive of the president to convey that the national government is here to provide whatever assistance is needed by the LGUs and by the people in all aspects… and to see to it that the presence of the national government is felt until the period of recovery”, she said.
Tino destroyed 7,876 houses and damaged 49,383 in Negros Occidental, the Cabinet secretaries were told.
“I understand from what has been relayed to us by the governor that there are thousands of totally and partially damaged houses and so we obtained from him his needs…(which) we will relay to the president,” Frasco said.
Tino’s damage to crops and infrastructure has hit P605.4 million, initial damage reports showed on Tuesday.
Yulo and Ferrer stressed the need for the repair of roads and bridges, which are vital with the milling season having started to prevent damage to the local economy.
All the reports we are receiving today will be relayed to Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon so he can also mobilize the roads and bridges assistance, Frasco said.
Angara said financial assistance will also be provided for the displaced workers later based on the mayors’ lists.
The death toll in Negros Occidental is 66 with 68 missing, the Department of the Interior and Local Government reported on Tuesday.
The dead in Negros Oriental were 21 with 20 in Canlaon City and 1 in Vallehermoso for a total of 89 in the NIR.
Frasco said they visited the various affected LGUS in Negros Occidental to continue the efforts that have already begun from the national government through relief in terms of food and non-food items, health and shelter related relief, and medium term infrastructure.
DEPED AID
Angara said he was delivering about 30 pieces of IT equipment to schools that no longer have internet connections because that’s what they requested. These include Starlink and laptops, he said
Angara said he was informed that “Tino” destroyed 30 classrooms in Negros Occidental, and a lot of schools need to be cleaned up.
Frasco and Angara visited Binalbagan, Moises Padilla, La Castellana, and La Carlota City.*