In a direct and swift response to the devastation caused by Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi), Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, representing President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., led an inter-agency relief and inspection mission to La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday, November 11. The mission culminated in the announcement of ₱10 million in immediate assistance to support the city’s rehabilitation efforts.
La Carlota City, identified as one of the areas most affected by the typhoon, was the focus of the high-level delegation’s visit. The Cabinet Secretaries led the ceremonial turnover of the financial assistance. They distributed essential relief items at the La Carlota City Evacuation Center, joined by Mayor Joelu Jalandoni and local officials.
Comprehensive Relief and Agency Support
Immediate aid distribution demonstrated a coordinated government response:
- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provided Family Food Packs, Family Kits, and Hygiene Kits.
- The Department of Health (DOH) turned over 100 jerrycans and a box of assorted medicines.
- The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DSHUD) delivered 25 shelter-grade tarpaulins for immediate use in temporary shelters and severely affected barangays.
Following the relief distribution, Secretaries Frasco and Angara convened a rehabilitation briefing with Mayor Jalandoni at the La Carlota City Hall. Discussions centered on the rapid restoration of critical infrastructure, including access roads, power lines, and public facilities.
The briefing also emphasized the severe economic impact on the city’s key sectors—the agriculture and sugar-cane industries, which are the backbone of La Carlota’s economy—and the strategies needed for their prompt recovery.
The mission concluded with an on-the-ground inspection of Barangay Roberto S. Benedicto (RBS), one of the hardest-hit areas, where the officials assessed the extent of the typhoon damage to community residences and essential school facilities.
The mission underscores the Marcos Jr. administration’s commitment to providing prompt relief and robust support for the swift recovery and rebuilding of typhoon-affected local government units, ensuring La Carlota City can rapidly restore livelihoods and infrastructure.
