Moises Padilla officials aid typhoon-hit schoolchildren

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — More than 100 elementary pupils from flood-hit Barangays 1 and 3 in Moises Padilla town, Negros Occidental, received new school supplies to help them return to class after losing their belongings during Typhoon Tino’s onslaught last year.

The two-day distribution, led by Mayor Ella Garcia Yulo and Vice Mayor Pimpoy Yulo, took place at the Mayor’s Office starting Wednesday, Jan. 7.

A total of 134 students benefited from the activity—91 from Barangay 1 and 43 from Barangay 3. Each pupil received new school uniforms, shoes, polo shirts, and school bags to replace items damaged or lost when flooding struck the municipality on Nov. 4.

Barangay leaders joined the distribution and helped provide the list of beneficiaries to ensure that aid reached the most affected families.

The initiative is part of the local government’s post-typhoon recovery efforts aimed at helping children resume their education with dignity and proper support.

Mayor Garcia Yulo and Vice Mayor Yulo emphasized their shared commitment to prioritizing education as a key pillar in the town’s recovery.

In a separate activity, Vice Mayor Yulo also conducted a site inspection for a proposed hanging footbridge connecting Barangays Montilla and Macagahay. He was joined by the municipal engineer, a Sangguniang Bayan member, and barangay officials.

The footbridge is expected to provide safer and faster access for residents, especially during the rainy season and emergencies, demonstrating continued collaboration between the local government and barangays to improve community welfare.

Officials said the initiatives reflect Moises Padilla’s ongoing efforts to help families recover, strengthen disaster resilience, and keep hope alive in affected communities.

Typhoon Tino, which struck on Nov. 4, 2025, caused widespread destruction in the town, leaving an estimated PHP 373 million in combined damage to infrastructure and agriculture.

According to the Municipal Agriculturist Office, the town sustained PHP 11.5 million in agricultural losses. Damage to rice crops amounted to PHP 6.6 million, while losses in livestock were pegged at PHP 4.5 million.

Other crop damage was also reported, further compounding the hardships faced by local farmers.

Initial infrastructure assessments placed total damage at PHP 363 million—PHP 162 million in roads, PHP 75 million in spillways, PHP 60 million in homes, and PHP 1.6 million in water pipeline systems.