Gov’t sends P1.2M to Negros Occidental to help ‘Odette’ survivors

BACOLOD CITY—The Bureau of Treasury has downloaded P1.2 billion to assist survivors of Typhoon “Odette” in Negros Occidental.

The amount increased after a third tranche was added to its initial allocations in December.

The use of the funds has been delayed because the local governments were waiting for the guidelines for their dispersal.

Two badly hit areas, Sipalay City and Hinoba-an, were among the local governments with the smallest allocations.

This was attributed to the local governments’ delayed reporting of the damage in their areas because of lack of communications.

The National Housing Authority also allocated P90 million for Negros Occidental residents whose houses were damaged and destroyed by the typhoon.

Odette damaged 158,238 houses and destroyed 51,330 in Negros Occidental, the Office of Civil Defense reported Wednesday, Jan. 5.

Bacolod also had 8,335 damaged houses and 732 destroyed.

The typhoon caused 49 deaths, 59 injured, and 14 missing in Negros Occidental, it said.

Damage to agriculture was P2.1 billion.

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