Bacolod mayor seeks clarity on PHP 100M typhoon aid

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — Mayor Greg Gasataya is set to meet with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) this week to clarify who will benefit from the PHP 100 million (USD 1,791,643.84) national government aid allocated for Bacolod residents affected by Typhoon Tino.

Speaking to reporters after a Christmas gathering on Monday, Gasataya expressed concern that not all affected households listed by the city may be included in the final list of beneficiaries.

The mayor said the DSWD was expected to release the validated list of affected households last Friday, but discrepancies have since emerged.

He emphasized the need to confirm whether all partially and totally damaged households in the city’s official submission will be granted financial assistance.

“Based on the information we have, not everyone will be able to receive, and that will be a big challenge because others will surely complain,” Gasataya warned.

Following DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian’s visit, the city submitted a total of 40,000 partially damaged houses and 4,000 totally damaged houses for aid consideration.

The DSWD conducted its own validation process and identified duplicate names that may have led to the exclusion of some households from the list.

Gasataya noted that the validated list of partially damaged houses does not include all reported cases, raising fears of dissatisfaction among affected residents.

He confirmed that the DSWD allocated PHP 100 million (USD 1,791,643.84) for Bacolod’s typhoon recovery efforts but admitted the amount is not enough to assist all 40,000 households.

“If you compute that against 40,000 households, it is not enough. That is why we really need to meet with them to clarify everything,” he said.

According to the mayor, the DSWD assured the city that households excluded from the initial fund distribution will still receive aid early next year.

Gasataya said he hopes the upcoming meeting with DSWD officials will provide clarity and prevent the spread of misinformation ahead of the distribution process.