Following directives from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and Education Secretary Sonny Angara spearheaded the administration’s on-ground relief operations for typhoon-affected communities in Negros on Tuesday, 11 November.
Representing the President in coordinating with local government units (LGUs) in the Negros Island Region (NIR), Secretary Frasco announced that around P95 million in immediate financial assistance had been approved for Negros Occidental to boost rehabilitation and recovery efforts.
Under the presidential assistance fund, P50 million will go to the Province of Negros Occidental, while P10 million each will be given to La Carlota City, La Castellana, and Moises Padilla. Meanwhile, P5 million each will be allotted to the municipalities of Binalbagan, Isabela, and Hinigaran.
“Nanghinaot mi nga pamaagi sa pagpadala sa Presidente sa iyahang mga miyembro sa gabinete, mahimduman ninyo na wala mo nag-inusara sa inyong kalisod. Naa ang nasyonal na panggobyerno, kauban sa inyong lokal na gobyerno, from the province to the local, tanang ahensya sa gobyerno, naa nga mubulig ka ninyo hangtod sa panahon nga kamo mubangon pagbalik,” Frasco said in her message during the ceremonial distribution in La Carlota City.
(“We hope that through the President’s act of sending his Cabinet members, you will remember that you are not alone in your hardship. The national government is here, together with your local government, from the province to the local level, all government agencies are here to help you until you are able to rise again.”)
Throughout the day, Frasco and Angara led the distribution of family food packs, family kits, and hygiene kits from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to evacuees in several municipalities and evacuation centers.
The Department of Health (DOH) also turned over 100 jerrycans and medicine boxes, while the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) provided 25 shelter-grade tarpaulins to each locality.
Secretary Frasco conducted site visits to assess the extent of typhoon damage and identify areas requiring urgent government intervention. Among these were hard-hit infrastructure sites and residential zones, including the Biao Spillway in Binalbagan, a key access route connecting barangays and a designated tourism road.
The cabinet officials also inspected the Jose Pepito Montilla Garcia Sr. National High School, which sustained ceiling-high flooding that destroyed classroom supplies and learning materials during Typhoon Tino.
In Moises Padilla and La Castellana, Frasco met with local officials to assess damage to the Riverside Area of Barangay Poblacion and the collapsed Buhangin River “Wipe-Out Bridge.” The inspections aimed to determine where government funding should be prioritized to improve access, connectivity, and public welfare—particularly critical during the harvest and milling season.
As relief and recovery efforts continue, Secretary Frasco assured residents that the national government remains committed to helping affected families rebuild stronger and safer communities.