Bacolod City to give P38.8M in aid to typhoon victims

By Merlinda A. Pedrosa

ABOUT P38.8 million in financial aid will be given by the Bacolod City Government to those whose houses were either destroyed or damaged during the onslaught of Typhoon Odette last week.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia said families whose houses were destroyed will receive P10,000 and P5,000 for the owners of damaged houses.

Leonardia said all barangay officials were already tasked to submit the lists of their affected residents.

Typhoon Odette destroyed 578 houses in Bacolod City and damaged 6,606 others, said Pacita Tero, head of the city’s Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD).

Meanwhile, the mayor expressed his gratitude to all the Bacolodnons for their cooperation during the typhoon.

“This is the first time ever that our preemptive evacuation was a success (and) we have no fatalities,” Leonardia said.

He said in previous years, some residents refused to be evacuated, but last week, more than 5,000 residents especially in coastal areas transferred to the evacuation area.

He added the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) along with the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office already doubled their efforts for the clearing operation and the repair of the electrical posts.