BACOLOD CITY – The Bago City government has built 14 modern nipa huts for Kanlaon Volcano evacuees in a seven-hectare relocation site in Barangay Napoles, Bago City.
NIPA huts for Kanlaon Volcano evacuees in Barangay Napoles, Bago City, Negros Occidental. (Photo via the Citybridge)
Dr. Merijene Ortizo, head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said that they were built for P50,000 each and among the 50 set to be constructed.
Ortizo said that 24 families or 50 individuals will live in these native houses spaced five meters apart to ensure their privacy.
She said that this is part of the city’s initiative to provide sustainable housing for displaced families in Kanlaon’s six-kilometer radius.
The relocation site prioritizes security and long-term sustainability with the bahay kubo model chosen for its eco-friendly nature, better ventilation, and cultural relevance, she said, unlike modular tents that cannot withstand harsh weather conditions.
She said that they requested 1,000 modular tents from the Office of Civil Defense but only 14 have been delivered to the city as the national government prioritizes the tent city in Himamaylan City.
She said that nipa huts are also a way to support local suppliers and promote the traditional Filipino way of living.
First in the province of Negros Occidental, the city opted to provide modernized bahay kubos instead of conventional modular tents for evacuees.
Ortizo said that the City Engineering Office has started site development, including road access and the establishment of communal facilities such as toilets and kitchens.
The site is designed to be secure, with dedicated spaces for medical teams, child-friendly areas, and women-friendly spaces. A camp management team is in place to ensure proper coordination.
The city has requested additional funding from the provincial government for the construction of facilities.
The city government hopes to finish site development and bless the area before the city’s Charter Day anniversary in the second or third week of February.