More than a thousand remaining evacuees in two sites in La Castellana, Negros Occidental have received assistance from civic organizations, led by the Rotary Club of Bacolod Central, along with the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) and the Negros Economic Development Foundation (NEDF).
Rotary District 3850 Governor Mate Espina led the team that distributed food, clothing, linens and hygiene kits to evacuees staying at St. Vncent’s High School and in La Castellana Senior High School.
La Castellana Mayor Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan and Councilor Kent Magnabe thanked the groups and told them that while many evacuees already went home, they continue to serve around 2,900 individuals who remained in five evacuation sites until Phivolcs will deem it safe for them to go home.
Mayor Mangilimutan said they remain at Level 2 because the numbers in the monitoring equipment of Phivolcs has not gone down to a safe level for the evacuees to return home.
John De Asis, the town’s disaster officer said as of Sunday, sulfur emission is still at 3,900 which is more than ten times the normal level of 300.
Mayor Mangilimutan said the damage to crops is very extensive and will affect their major agriculture industries of banana and coffee.
Meanwhile, among those who joined the “Operation Tabang” in La Castellana were Rotarians Toks Lopez, Joselito Sion, Dr. Mutya Varona, Atty. Juliana Carbon, who also represented MBCCI, Rose Depra, Ditas and Santi Joson of NEDF and their staff.
In a statement, Espina also thanked Rotary District 3850, Nepan Sales, Merczi Pasalubong, The Woodbridge Academy, and Assistant Governor Aaron Frank of D6250, Wisconsin, USA for helping in the mission.||
Caption
Victims of Kanlaon volcano phreatic eruption receive food packs, among other assistance, from Rotary District 3850 and NEDF representatives. | Toks Lopez photo8
