• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
While Mt. Kanlaon remains restive, almost all the 8,987 families affected by its eruption on June 3 have returned to their respective homes.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Region 6 reported on Wednesday, July 10, that only 10 families, composed of 34 individuals, remain in two evacuation centers while another family, composed of five persons, are staying with their relatives in La Castellana town.
The 11 families, who are residing within the four-kilometer permanent danger zone, were not allowed by the municipal government to return to their respective homes yet.
In its advisory, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported that Mt. Kanlaon emitted 2,635 tonnes of sulfur dioxide in the past 24 hours, and logged two volcanic quakes.
The normal sulfur dioxide emission is 300 tonnes.
Alert Level 2 remains in effect over Mt. Kanlaon.
In a statement, DSWD-6 reported that it has provided P24.09 million in total assistance to families affected by the Mt. Kanlaon eruption.
The assistance included P3.214 million worth of family food packs, P4.896 million worth of non-food items and P15.98 million cash assistance.
Each of the 1,598 displaced families who evacuated received P10,000 each. | GB
