• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Two days before the start of the opening of classes, schools used as evacuation centers in the past six months have been decamped by internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon in La Castellana and La Carlota City, Negros Occidental.
The schools are set to be occupied by students starting Monday (June 16).
Earlier, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council issued a memorandum ordering to vacate the 11 schools used as evacuation centers in three local government units in Negros Island in preparation for the resumption of face-to-face classes.
On June 13, a total of 1,092 IDPs in La Castellana decamped the evacuation centers at the town poblacion and were transferred to new relocation sites such as barangay covered courts and open spaces, which are outside the six-kilometer permanent danger zones.
Of the number, 463 are from Barangay Mansalanao, 214 from Barangay Sag-ang. 244 from Barangay Biak Na Bato, and 171 from Barangay Masulog, according to a report of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office turned over 80 modular tents to barangays of Mansalanao, Biak Na Bato and Masulog, and a generator set with fuel supply was also delivered to Masulog High School Extension.
Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head John de Asis said the IDPs who live in houses near the road will also be allowed to go home.
Meanwhile, the 897 IDPs in La Carlota City, who are residing outside the six-kilometer permanent danger zone, were also allowed to go home on Friday after vacating the three schools they had been using as evacuation centers.
The remaining 232 IDPs, who are living inside the permanent danger zone, however, were not allowed to go home, and are now staying in the City Evacuation Center and City Gymnasium 1. | GB
