• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental is now under a state of calamity upon the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) during an emergency meeting presided by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Thursday (Dec. 12).
The declaration was unanimously approved through a resolution, which cited the Dec. 9 eruption of Mt. Kanlaon, affecting the local government units of La Carlota City, Bago City, La Castellana, Pontevedra, Hinigaran, Valladolid, San Enrique and Binalbagan.
Lacson said there will also be a price freeze in all basic commodities, especially face masks, which are reportedly being sold for P20 to P30 per piece.
He called on businesses not take advantage of the situation.
“By keeping the price where it should be, you are actually helping the victims of the Kanlaon volcano eruption,” he added.
With the declaration of a state of calamity, which is expected to be concurred by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan during its special session on Friday (Dec. 13), Lacson said the provincial government may now utilize its Quick Response Fund and also the other local government units (LGUs) who would want to extend help to the affected LGUs.
Task Force Kanlaon head Raul Fernandez, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense-Western Visayas, called on the LGUs to make it mandatory that evacuation should be up to the six-kilometer radius from the crater, following the declaration of Alert Level 3, signifying the onset of a magmatic eruption that could escalate into further explosive activity.
This will lead to the evacuation at a minimum of 33,806 individuals, the governor said.
Lacson said he was informed by Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro that he will ask President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for additional funds to take care of the affected residents, following recommendation of the Office of Civil Defense for internally displaced persons to stay in the evacuation centers for at least three weeks.
Provincial Disaster Program Management Division chief Irene Bel Ploteña reported that there are 3,678 families, composed of 12,409 persons, in 18 barangays of Bago City, La Carlota City, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Pontevedra and Murcia, who have been displaced by the eruption, are now staying in designated evacuation centers and other shelters.
Initial damage to agricultural crops was placed at P601,279 while 25,228 heads of livestock were also affected.
Entertaining a worst-case scenario, the provincial government is also preparing the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City to accommodate at least 5,000 evacuees should the permanent danger zone be extended to 10 kilometers from the volcano summit, if Alert Level 4 will be declared.
The raising of alert status may affect 200,000 residents, based on a study of the province. | GB
