• CHERYL G. CRUZ
House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said June 4 that he is expediting the release of P40 million in assistance to residents affected by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Island June 3.
Romualdez said he has coordinated with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Labor and Employment to allocate P20 million each, under the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) and the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), respectively.
“These funds will provide much-needed support to affected residents in Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental, ensuring that they have the resources to cope with the disruptions caused by the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano,” he said in a statement.
The Speaker said another P4 million worth of food packs will come from his Disaster Assistance Fund.
The leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives added that affected residents in the 1st District of Negros Oriental, represented by Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong, and the 4th District of Negros Occidental, represented by Rep. Juliet Marie de Leon Ferrer, will each receive P10 million from AKAP, and P10 million from TUPAD.
The cash support is intended for residents, whose livelihoods and employment have been disrupted by the explosive eruption that occurred at the summit vent of Mt. Kanlaon at 6:51 p.m. June 3. The volcano is under Alert Level 2, or increasing unrest.
The two districts were also allocated P2 million each in food packs from Romualdez’s Disaster Assistance Fund, to address the immediate needs of affected residents.
“By providing these food packs, we aim to meet the urgent needs of our communities and ensure that no one goes hungry during this difficult time,” he stressed.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., meanwhile, assured all those affected by the Kanlaon Volcano eruption of the government’s continued support as he enforced a whole-of-government approach to ensure the welfare of the public and the immediate provision of assistance.
In a video message, Marcos said that the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development are on top of the situation.
He said the alert level alarm was raised to Alert Level 2 to ensure the safety of the residents. Currently, there are around 170 families, or 796 individuals, affected by the volcano eruption, who were immediately evacuated, Marcos said in a Presidential Communications Office report.
“Namigay na tayo ng mga sleeping kits sa La Castellana at may 13,000 family food packs na ang naka-preposition sa Negros Island at may karagdagang 40,000 food packs at iba pang non-food items na paparating,” he said.
“Naka-standby din ang ating mga air asset para mas mabilis na pag-responde Tinitiyak ko na ang ating pamahalaan ay handa at patuloy na nagbibigay ng suporta hanggang makabalik nang ligtas ang lahat sa kanilang mga tahanan,” Marcos added in his message.
He called on residents, especially those close to the affected area to remain vigilant and refrain from staying at the four-kilometer radius permanent danger zone. Marcos also urged them to always follow the guidelines and reminders from authorities. | CGC
