The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VI said June 6 it already released a total of P983,252 worth of food and nonfood items for families affected by the Mt. Kanlaon eruption in Negros Island June 3.
The agency has released the assistance to 572 affected families, composed of 1,985 individuals, as of 10 p.m. June 5. Most of the affected families are from La Castellana in Negros Occidental with 242 families or 985 individuals.
“We are continuously helping the families affected by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon,” DSWD6 regional director, Atty. Carmelo Nochete, said in a statement. “Along with our counterparts in Negros Oriental and local government units, we want that families are safe and are provided with basic necessities.”
Of the assistance provided, affected residents in Bago receive P127,680; P301,735 for La Carlota City; P79,135 for Pontevedra; and P474,702 for La Castellana, all in Negros Occidental.
As of reporting time, 270 families or 1,725 individuals remain inside evacuation centers, while 40 displaced families opted to seek shelter with their relatives and friends, the DSWD said.
The LGUs have also immediately responded, Nochete said, adding that P1 million worth of assistance was provided to affected residents. Bago City provided P107,250 worth of assistance; La Carlota City, P341,590; Pontevedra, P162,190; and La Castellana, P429,845.85, the bulk of which came from the provincial government of Negros Occidental.
In La Carlota City, nongovernment organizations also released P49,700 worth of aid.
The DSWD also conducted crash courses on camp coordination and management for members of quick response teams and LGU representatives for a smooth and well-coordinated management of evacuation centers and proper care of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
The department also deployed the mobile command center stationed in La Castellana to facilitate the timely submission of reports and smoother disaster response to cater to the needs of IDPs in various evacuation centers.
The command center is equipped with state-of-the-art satellite internet, two laptops, two units of mobile printer and portable scanner, camera, large power banks and two sets of 5KVA generators that can be used as source of power and for the internet connection of communities in affected areas. ||
