A total of 990 beneficiaries from three local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental affected by Typhoon Odette last December have received PHP4.95 million worth of financial aid from National Housing Authority (NHA) Special Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP).

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson led the turnover to the recipients, who received PHP50,000 each, in a series of visits in these areas on Tuesday.

“We are distributing the assistance depending on the actual number of typhoon victims in each LGU,” he said.

In the north, there were 76 beneficiaries in Cadiz City while 215 received assistance in Victorias City.

There were 699 recipients in Pontevedra town in the south.

In Cadiz, Mayor Salvador Escalante told the recipients in his locality to appreciate the efforts of the government to assist them.

The distribution of assistance was the second time after the kick-off in Kabankalan City also in the south, where 7,234 beneficiaries also received PHP5,000 each.

The cash aid came from the PHP90 million committed by the NHA to the provincial government to rebuild the damaged houses of Negrenses affected by Typhoon Odette on December 20.

On December 20, President Rodrigo Duterte visited Kabankalan City to check the areas affected by the typhoon in Negros Occidental.

The Special EHAP Fund is provided under NHA Memorandum Circular 2021-070 signed by General Manager Marcelino Escalada Jr., to immediately help families whose houses were damaged or destroyed by Typhoon Odette. (PNA)