Bago City, one of the areas most severely affected by the recent eruption of Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Occidental, declared a state of calamity yesterday to expedite relief efforts for affected residents.
Acting on the recommendation of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC), the city council approved the declaration during a special session, as the locality just south of Bacolod has been experiencing hazards and various damage since the volcanic eruption on December 9.
Mayor Nicholas Yulo said the city government could now access P18 million from its Quick Response Fund to provide evacuees with immediate aid.
“The ash fall has affected all our 24 barangays. The worst affected are four barangays, including Mailum, Ilijan, Ma-ao, and Binubuhan,” he said.
As of Sunday, December 15, 113 families, consisting of 366 individuals, were housed in four evacuation centers.
On Monday, 159 individuals from 49 families in Purok Manokan, Barangay Ilijan also left their homes in response to an order of mandatory evacuation for residents within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone issued by the Regional Task Force Kanlaon.
“The declaration of a statement of calamity will expedite relief operations, mobilize resources, and enhance coordination among government agencies and stakeholders to address the needs of affected communities,” the CDRRMC said in its resolution.
The CDRRMC resolution emphasized the importance of the state of calamity declaration to mobilize resources, streamline relief operations, and enhance coordination among agencies.
It also imposes a price freeze on basic goods to prevent predatory pricing and hoarding.
Negros Occidental’s Provincial Board similarly declared the entire province under a state of calamity on December 13 after Mt. Kanlaon’s eruption prompted the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology to raise the alert level to 3, indicating ongoing magmatic activity that could lead to further explosive eruptions.
Efforts are focused on providing aid, ensuring safety, and mitigating the eruption’s impact on affected communities. (PNA)