• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Following the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their homes after the downgraded alert level status of Kanlaon Volcano, the Office of Civil Defense-Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) is optimistic the affected local government units (LGUs) could still receive the P203-million fund promised to them by Malacañang.
OCD-NIR Regional Director Donato Sermeno said on Monday (Aug. 4) they have not received any communication that the funds promised to the concerned LGUs will no longer be released.
The funds are still good as of this time, Sermeno said, stressing that Kanlaon’s unrest status is still Alert Level 2.
Almost 3,000 IDPs in La Castellana, Negros Occidental and Canlaon City in Negros Occidental went home last week, after staying in evacuation centers for about eight months.
However, there are still 213 IDPs occupying the evacuation camps in La Castellana, OCD-NIR records showed.
The P203-million budget, as requested and approved by Malacañang, for La Castellana, La Carlota and Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental have yet to be downloaded by the Department of Budget and Management to the recipients.
Sermeno said the OCD-NIR remains on red alert status because of the continuing unrest of Kanlaon Volcano.
The remaining more than 200 IDPs in La Carlota City are scheduled to return home this week while some of the 22 families in Bago City are set to leave the evacuation site on Aug. 16.
La Castellana Mayor Añejo Nicor said the cost of caring for the evacuees has completely depleted the town’s quick response fund (QRF) and other resources.
Nicor said they are appealing to the national government for help to recover.
Sermeno supported the appeal of Nicor for the reimbursement of their QRF in anticipation of more storms that will hit the country.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Monday the purchase of the 8.6-hectare land for La Castellana residents, residing within the four-kilometer permanent danger zone “is about to happen already”.
“We would like to start it. I hope that the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council is also quick in extending their help in the site development of the relocation area,” Lacson said.
Sermeno said the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development is conducting an inventory of the houses destroyed and damaged by Kanlaon Volcano eruption for financial assistance to the owners. | GB
