Nine families living within the four-kilometer danger zone of Mt. Kanlaon have received food and non-food assistance from the national government, a social welfare official said on Wednesday, December 25.

Shalaine Marie Lucero, regional director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Central Visayas, said the agency’s Quick Response Team 3, led by vice chairperson Juanito Cantero, distributed aid worth P76,284 to nine internally displaced persons (IDPs) in three evacuation centers.

“They had to leave their homes because they live within the four-kilometer danger zone,” Lucero said in an interview.

Milagros Requinilao, an IDP staying in Camp 2, said her family was among those forcibly evacuated due to their homes’ proximity to the danger zone.

“We did not want to leave, but the police evacuated us because it is dangerous,” Requinilao said.

She said that while leaving their homes meant safety, it also brought challenges as their farms and livestock — their primary livelihood — are located within the Mt. Kanlaon area.

Despite the difficulties, Requinilao said the move was timely, especially after the volcano emitted dark ash on December 23.

Lucero said displaced families have expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by the government.

To support the evacuees, the Canlaon City government, DSWD and private partners have organized psychosocial activities to help families process potential trauma and remain engaged while in evacuation camps.

Canlaon City has 10 evacuation centers managed by the local government, with support from DSWD-7’s Camp Management Teams.

Since Mt. Kanlaon erupted on December 9, the DSWD-7 Quick Response Teams assisted the city government in managing evacuation centers and providing technical support for disaster response and camp management. (PNA)