By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-6, local government units (LGUs), and others have extended P7,222,951.50 worth of assistance to residents of Negros Occidental, including Bacolod, who were affected by Severe Tropical Storm “Paeng” early this month.
According to Atty. May Rago-Castillo, public information officer of DSWD-6, P6,555,818.50 worth of assistance came from the DSWD, while P667,133 was provided by the LGU and non-government organizations (NGOs), as of Nov. 6.
Food packs, non-food items, and hygiene kits were given to the cities of Bago, Kabankalan, San Carlos, Silay, Sipalay, and Talisay, and the towns of Binalbagan, Calatrava, Cauayan, E.B. Magalona, Hinigaran, Hinoba-an, Ilog, Isabela, Don Salvador Benedicto, San Enrique, and Valladolid.
Castillo said the assistance was provided to 175,199 persons or 44,729 families from 285 barangays in the province. All evacuees have already returned to their houses.
She said that the distribution of food items and non-food items is still ongoing.
In fact, the DSWD has provided P5.7 million worth of food items and P829,575 non-food items to Negrenses.
A total of 1,321 houses were affected, including 130 that were destroyed, and 1,191 damaged houses.
Castillo said they are still awaiting the release of the cash assistance to those whose houses were damaged.
She said P3,000 will be given to those whose houses were damaged, and P5,000 to those whose houses were destroyed.
For Bacolod, 3,381 individuals or 839 families from 14 barangays were affected by “Paeng”.
Castillo said that 84 houses were damaged, wherein 15 of which were totally damaged, and 69 were partially damaged here.
Meanwhile, she said that releasing of assistance to victims of Typhoon Odette is still ongoing. In fact, the DSWD has extended P376,450,000 worth of assistance to 75,290 persons affected by the typhoon last year.
Castillo said they are just augmenting the LGU in the releasing of assistance for Typhoon Odette victims in the province.
