• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The provincial government of Negros Occidental received a P1-million financial assistance from the Davao City government for the Negrenses displaced by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon.
The check was turned over on Monday (Feb. 3) by retired PCol. Alfredo Baloran, head of the Davao City Risk Reduction and Management Office, and City Treasurer Virgilio San Pedro to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City.
In Negros Occidental, there are 1,860 families, composed of 5,824 persons, staying at 15 evacuation centers, according to the data of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
On Feb. 2 and 3, seven ash eruptions were recorded by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
These events generated grayish plumes that rose up to 400 meters above the summit crater before drifting northwest and southwest to west, respectively, according to Phivolcs.
Alert Level 3 prevails over Mt. Kanlaon.
Meanwhile, the Canlaon City government in Negros Oriental turned over this week more than P12 million worth of infrastructure projects to Barangay Linothangan and Barangay Bucalan despite the continuing challenges posed by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon.
City information officer-designate Edna Lhou Masicampo said that the projects were completed last year but the turnover was delayed due to the volcanic eruption on Dec. 9.
“These projects were at the different stages of completion before the eruption,” she said.
Barangay Linothangan received 17 projects totaling P6 million. These include improvements to the livestock auction market, solar lighting for the village hall’s covered court, waiting sheds, pathways, daycare center rehabilitation, a materials recovery facility and a water system.
Funds were also allocated for basketball court enhancements, multipurpose pavement and canal concreting.
Meanwhile, Barangay Bucalan received nine projects amounting to P6.8 million for the construction of waiting sheds, pathways, and solar-powered streetlights; road concreting in key areas; and improvements to the covered court.
The local government fully funded the projects. | GB with PNA reports
