PBBM vows sustained support for Tino victims

By Glazyl M. Jopson

LA CASTELLANA, Negros Occidental — Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was both encouraging and reassuring during his visit to communities affected by Typhoon “Tino,” emphasizing that the national government will continue supporting victims and addressing their immediate needs.

Lacson attended a situational briefing with the President, local officials, and several Cabinet members at the La Castellana Municipal Council building on Nov. 15.

He told reporters after the briefing that national authorities are fully aware of the conditions in the areas most severely affected by the typhoon.

He said the President’s presence — along with that of Cabinet secretaries — showed genuine concern and a commitment to fund and advance recovery efforts.

Marcos was accompanied by Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

“His presence here in addition to the Cabinet secretaries who came over shows the concern is there, and they’ll do everything to be able to fund and push for recovery,” Lacson said.

The group also discussed the state of damaged infrastructure, including destroyed bridges.

Lacson said that while funding considerations have been made, repairs will take time.

He stressed that the typhoon’s aftermath cannot be resolved quickly because the recovery process will be lengthy.

“The solution to the disaster brought about by the typhoon cannot be addressed in a short time. It was made clear that this will take time,” he said.

The governor confirmed that the PHP50 million earlier allocated by the national government has been transferred to the provincial government.

He thanked the President for visiting Negros Occidental and the areas severely affected by the typhoon.

“We are deeply grateful for this show of genuine concern and national support,” he said.

In a social media post, Lacson said the President’s sincerity and resolve to help were evident and were strengthened by the presence of key Cabinet officials who joined him as he inspected the damage, assessed needs on the ground, and met with mayors of affected local government units to coordinate immediate interventions.

“The tragedy brought by the typhoon has been painful for Negros Occidental, but the presence of our President and the support of the national government give us hope that we are not alone in facing this challenge,” he said, adding that their assistance and concern strengthen the province as it strives to recover.

Officials are still determining whether the funds will be distributed as financial aid or used to purchase housing materials, following procedures applied after Typhoon Odette.

The typhoon displaced 792,251 individuals or 218,764 families in 569 barangays in the province and caused PHP1.8 billion in damages to agriculture, infrastructure, livestock, farm machinery, and the fisheries sector.

As of Nov. 16, Negros Occidental recorded 107 deaths, 63 missing persons, and 153 injured from the typhoon, according to the Office of Civil Defense–Negros Island Region.