NEGROS Occidental — More than a month after Typhoon “Tino” struck Negros Occidental, hundreds of residents in the town of La Castellana remain displaced, highlighting the extent of destruction and the continuing challenges faced by the municipality in its recovery efforts.
While some affected families have begun rebuilding their lives, local authorities disclosed that many residents are still unable to return home, particularly those coming from areas declared as no-build zones due to high disaster risk.
On December 11, the local government of La Castellana, in partnership with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), distributed housing materials to 23 families in Barangay San Luis whose homes were totally destroyed by the typhoon. The beneficiaries previously lived in high-risk areas now classified as no-build zones.
The assistance, which consisted mainly of light construction materials, is intended to help families construct temporary shelters while the government finalizes plans for permanent relocation.
Mayor Añejo Nicor said the initiative is a crucial step in ensuring that severely affected residents have safe shelter as they recover from their losses.
“This project is an essential step to ensure that the victims will have a place to stay while they recover from their losses,” Nicor said.
Despite the initial assistance, the displacement situation in La Castellana remains critical. Mayor Nicor reported that 390 families are still staying in evacuation centers, most of whom cannot return to their original communities due to safety restrictions. While some evacuees are expected to spend the Christmas season in their homes, many families will remain in temporary shelters during the holidays.
Adding to the strain on local resources are 68 families affected by volcanic activity from Kanlaon Volcano who remain inside evacuation centers after being displaced from the four-kilometer permanent danger zone.
Vice Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Mangilimutan earlier said the P5 million recovery fund extended by the Office of the President will be used primarily for the acquisition of land for a permanent relocation site for typhoon victims. The local government is now prioritizing land acquisition to pave the way for the construction of safer and more sustainable housing for displaced families.
Meanwhile, Office of Civil Defense–Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) Director Donato Sermeno III said evacuees affected by Typhoon Tino in other parts of the region have already returned to their homes, leaving La Castellana as the only locality where a significant number of typhoon victims remain displaced./PN
