• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
More than 46,000 individuals have been displaced by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon as Alert Level 3 (magmatic unrest) persists over the volcano in Negros Island, a report released by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Monday (Jan. 6) showed.
Citing a report of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the OCD said a significant degassing from the volcano was detected on Jan. 4, triggering an emergency alert warning message disseminated to the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.
As a result of the ongoing volcanic activity, 12,223 families, composed of 46,781 individuals, have been affected in Western and Central Visayas.
At present, there are 4,128 families (13,454 persons) sheltered in 34 evacuation centers, while an additional 2,351 families (7,458 persons) have sought refuge in other areas.
OCD also noted a slight increase in the number of displaced individuals in evacuation centers since Jan. 5, with some families in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental permitted by local officials to stay with relatives beyond the six-kilometer radius permanent danger zone (PDZ).
For 14 days, the provincial government of Negros Occidental fed thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the evacuation centers of La Castellana and cities of La Carlota and Bago, along with the volunteers, peacekeepers and social workers, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said.
The 14-day feeding program ended on Monday as agreed by the mayors of the three affected local government units (LGUs) with Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.
Diaz said the LGUs will again take charge of the food provisions of the IDPs, with support of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
He added the affected LGUs may now use their respective quick reaction funds for 2025.
Diaz said the community kitchens established by the provincial government in the evacuation centers will continue to operate under the concerned LGUs.
The local chief executives of the affected LGUs will also meet with Lacson to discuss the permanent resettlement sites for residents living within the permanent danger zone.
Diaz said they are eyeing to use the P50- million financial assistance from the Office of the President either for food provisions or to buy materials for the houses of IDPs in the resettlement areas.
OCD said the second cycle of the family food pack distribution is ongoing, with provisions set to last until Jan. 15. | GB
