The Negros Oriental provincial government and Canlaon City are seeking the intervention of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to declare a state of calamity for local government units (LGUs) affected by the recent eruption of Mt. Kanlaon.
“This is another option being considered as Negros Oriental is in a unique situation where only Canlaon City is affected by the volcanic eruption, unlike Negros Occidental, which has already declared a state of calamity,” Adrian Sedillo, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), said on Tuesday.
By law, at least two or three LGUs must be affected before a provincial government can declare a state of calamity.
Without this declaration, Negros Oriental cannot utilize its quick response fund (QRF) to provide financial aid to Canlaon City.
Sedillo cited National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Memorandum Circular No. 60, which allows the President to declare a state of calamity for a cluster of LGUs impacted by a disaster.
During recent meetings with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) from Regions 6 (Western Visayas), 7 (Central Visayas), and the Negros Island Region, Sedillo said the governor and Canlaon City mayor formally raised the request for a Presidential declaration.
The concerns of the Negros Oriental PDRRM Council are now with the Office of the President, Sedillo added.
On Tuesday, OCD-7 Director Joel Sevilla Erestain met with Governor Manuel Sagarbarria and the PDRRMC to discuss the matter.
Sedillo said they asked the NDRRMC, through the three OCD directors, to endorse their request to the President.
Canlaon City’s QRF is nearly depleted, prompting the LGU to seek assistance from both the government and private sector to meet the needs of evacuees.
As of Tuesday, December 17, 1,719 families or 5,530 individuals were staying in eight evacuation centers in Canlaon City.
Another 140 families, or 434 individuals, are outside the centers.
The LGU plans to complete the evacuation of over 6,000 residents this week from five villages located within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone around Mt. Kanlaon, as mandated by the government. (PNA)