BACOLOD CITY – The relocation site for Typhoon Tino victims in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, has been expanded further from one to two hectares, Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo disclosed over-the-weekend.
The two-hectare lot was donated by the estate of Cecilia Garcia-Lopez, said Mayor Garcia-Yulo, who officiated the mass wedding of 50 couples, a day before Valentine’s Day at the municipal gym.
It will accommodate more families whose houses were destroyed by the typhoon in November last year, the mayor added.
At present, there are still 27 families occupying the municipal evacuation center.
The expansion is a key component of the town’s comprehensive rehabilitation initiative, designed to ensure typhoon survivors have stable, secure spaces to restart their lives after the disaster’s devastating impact. In addition to housing support, the local government is also in the process of addressing critical concerns over student mobility and safety.
Mayor Garcia-Yulo also raised concerns of students from remote Barangays Inolingan and Quintin Remo who are currently attending school in the poblacion.
With the hanging footbridge no longer in place, students are forced to cross the river by boat, creating safety risks and daily inconvenience.
Admitting that reconstructing the hanging footbridge poses engineering challenges, Yulo said it would require identifying a higher and more suitable location, and building a strong foundation, a process that could take considerable time.
As an immediate and practical solution, she said the local government plans to open Grade 7 and Grade 8 classes at the relocation site by the start of the next school year.
This will allow students from the affected barangays to attend school closer to home, eliminating the need to cross the river.
The proposed school facilities will also be established within the relocation site, ensuring accessible education while strengthening support for families recovering from Typhoon Tino, Yulo further said. (Gilbert Bayoran via tvds)