The Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) in Bacolod City has formally requested additional financial support from the national government to help families still recovering from the devastation of Typhoon Tino.
Funding Gap Leaves Thousands Unassisted
According to DSSD Assistant Head Alma Gustilo, the city needs more funds for its Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) program. The current allocation from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the Negros Island Region (NIR) is P230,124,600. This budget is designed to assist 39,369 families, a figure based on reports submitted to the national government by November 17, 2025.
However, a major discrepancy has emerged. Gustilo revealed that the DSSD's own consolidated data paints a grimmer picture. Their records show a total of 48,236 affected families across 61 barangays in Bacolod. This significant gap means that many families were excluded from the initial aid distributions conducted in December 2025.
Appeal for Additional Resources
To bridge this shortfall, the DSSD, acting through the Office of Mayor Greg Gasataya, has appealed to the DSWD for supplementary ECT funds for the current year. The appeal highlights the extensive damage caused by the typhoon, which struck on November 4, 2025, and left at least 38 public schools in Bacolod City damaged.
"This means that many families were not covered under the first and second batches of payouts," Gustilo stated, emphasizing the urgency of the request.
Validation and Next Steps
The process for securing additional aid is now underway. Barangays have been instructed to re-submit updated master lists of affected households. These lists must follow a specific format and must exclude families who have already received assistance.
Gustilo noted that some barangays are still in the process of submitting their lists. All submitted data is still subject to validation by the DSWD-NIR office. The city is now awaiting the DSWD's approval on the appeal to resume the distribution of crucial financial assistance to the remaining thousands of affected families.
