La Castellana eyes land purchase for typhoon relocation

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — The municipal government of La Castellana is preparing to purchase an 8.3-hectare property in Barangay Robles as a permanent relocation site for families displaced by Typhoon Tino, with nearly 300 households still in urgent need of resettlement.

Vice Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Mangilimutan said the site, located in Bacsay Round, will prioritize high-risk families — particularly those living within 15 meters of riverbanks, in designated no-build zones, or whose homes were completely destroyed by flooding.

Mangilimutan told reporters Thursday that the local government is prioritizing the land purchase to assist internally displaced persons (IDPs) still without permanent shelter weeks after the storm.

More than 600 households in La Castellana were rendered homeless due to flooding triggered by Typhoon Tino.

Although some families have found temporary housing with relatives or in makeshift structures, around 300 households remain without permanent homes, according to local estimates.

The Provincial Assessor’s Office will conduct a valuation of the proposed site, while the municipality plans to allocate PHP 10 million from the Presidential Assistance Fund (PAF) for the acquisition.

Mangilimutan added that negotiations are underway with the landowner for a possible installment payment arrangement, as additional funding will be needed for development.

She said the site will require the construction of basic services and infrastructure to become fully livable and resilient.

In addition to typhoon-related displacement, La Castellana continues to shelter evacuees from areas surrounding Mount Kanlaon due to volcanic activity.

At least 68 families residing within the four-kilometer permanent danger zone remain housed in evacuation centers.

Office of Civil Defense–Negros Island Region (OCD–NIR) Director Donato Sermeno III confirmed that all other localities affected by Typhoon Tino have completed their decampment operations.

La Castellana is currently the only municipality with ongoing evacuations.

Meanwhile, the nearby town of Moises Padilla is also expediting its recovery and resettlement efforts.

Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo announced that land owned by her family is being donated for a relocation site that will house 362 families displaced by flooding during Typhoon Tino.

Hundreds of evacuees in Moises Padilla remain in temporary shelters as the local government works toward providing permanent homes.

Officials in both municipalities emphasized the importance of continued national government support to accelerate relocation programs and help disaster-affected families rebuild their lives in safer, more sustainable communities.