• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
La Castellana Mayor Añejo Nicor is pleading for assistance from the national government for the town residents affected by the ongoing activity of Kanlaon Volcano.
Of the 4,200 internally displaced persons (IDPs), more than 1,000 individuals are staying in the evacuation centers for more than seven months now.
A total of P48.52 million has been earmarked for La Castellana out of the P203 million additional funds promised by the national government.
Regional Director Donato Sermeno of the Office of Civil Defense-Negros Island Region said that affected local government units (LGUs) must inquire and follow-up the funds with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) as recommended by Department of the Interior and Undersecretary Marlo Iringan Government
Nicor, however, said they have yet to get a response from the DBM despite several follow-ups.
“Our budget is already depleted,” Nicor said.
The supplementary fund is expected to help LGUs address gaps in essential services and resources needed by residents, who were compelled to abandon their homes when the volcano erupted last December.
While the Department of Social Welfare and Development continues to provide food packs to the IDPs, Nicor said the provincial government of Negros Occidental again ended its second set of serving hot meals to the evacuees.
However, Nicor said he was informed that the provincial government will resume its feeding program for La Castellana IDPs soon.
Alert Level 3 (magmatic unrest) remains hoisted over Kanlaon Volcano, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.*
