• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Having fully utilized its five percent calamity fund of P17 million and maintenance and other operating expenses budget for 2025, the municipal government of La Castellana, which is affected by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon, is seeking a replenishment of its disaster funds and other expenses from the national government.
La Castellana Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor- Mangilimutan said on Friday (March 15) that they have spent P32 million for food of affected residents as well as for fuel, following the volcanic eruption in December last year.
A total of 1,362 families, composed of 4,244 individuals, are now staying in evacuation centers in La Castellana for more than three months now.
Nicor-Mangilimutan said they asked for P47 million from the national government to replenish their funds and for continuous expenses in anticipation of another eruption, which may further increase the number of affected population.
During a lull in the feeding program of the Negros Occidental provincial government, the mayor said that the municipal government spent about P300,000 a day for the lunch and dinner of more than 4,000 individuals.
“If this will continue, we cannot sustain it,” she added.
The provincial government is slated to start its third wave of feeding program on March 15, utilizing the bulk of the P50 million budget given to them by Malacañang.
During the visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to Negros Occidental last month, families who are staying in evacuation centers received P5,000 each.
Similar amount was also distributed on Friday to 594 families staying outside of the evacuation centers.
Donato Sermeno III, Office of Civil Defense regional director for Negros Island Region, earlier said the request of La Castellana was already endorsed to the Office of the President for appropriate action. | GB
