The safety of Negrenses displaced by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon, with the aim of zero casualty remains the priority of the national government in responding to the crisis that has affected thousands of families for a month now.
This was emphasized by Office of Civil Defense-Western Visayas (OCD-6) Regional Director Raul Fernandez, together with the representatives of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in a press briefing held at the Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City on Wednesday, January 8.
“As long as we have a scientific basis that Kanlaon is still in unrest mode, that there is still the threat of a magmatic eruption, on our part as disaster managers, we always look into the welfare and safety of the people,” Fernandez, who also chairs the Regional Inter-Agency Coordinating Cell, said.
Following the explosive eruption on December 9, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised the volcano’s alert level to 3, indicating that “magmatic eruption has begun and may progress to further explosive eruptions,” prompting the evacuation of residents within the extended six-kilometer radius permanent danger zone (PDZ).
The latest consolidated data of the DSWD in Regions 6 and 7 showed that 4,019 families, or 13,083 individuals, are staying in 34 evacuation centers, while 2,351 families, or 7,458 individuals, live with relatives and other shelters.
The total number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) reached 6,370 families, or 20,541 individuals, in the cities of Bago, La Carlota and San Carlos, and La Castellana town in Negros Occidental and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.
La Castellana, which has six villages located at the foot of Mt. Kanlaon, has the most number of IDPs — 2,121 families, or 6,886 persons, in 11 evacuation centers.
Though he acknowledged the challenges in providing food for the IDPs, Fernandez said he believes that residents outside the six-kilometer radius PDZ, who also fled their homes, should remain in the evacuation centers to ensure their safety.
Data of the OCD-6 showed that in the event Mt. Kanlaon’s alert level is raised to four, the PDZ will be extended up to a 10-kilometer radius, affecting an estimated 12,729 families, or 51,570 persons, in the seven affected local government units (LGUs), including two others, the municipalities of Murcia and Moises Padilla in Negros Occidental.
“What we’re doing, as much as possible, is aiming for zero casualty. We have the full support of the President [Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr]. We have the Secretary of National Defense [Gilbert Teodoro], who is the chairman of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. Ang national government po, hindi po sumusuko. For the local governments, let us face the problem with resilience in mind, with unity and help and cooperation of everybody,” he added.
The Office of the President earlier provided financial assistance of P50 million to Negros Occidental and P60 million to Negros Oriental.
Food and non-food items provided by the DSWD to both provinces totaled P72.431 million, which is part of the P103.648 million in total assistance extended to the seven affected LGUs.
Assistance from LGUs amounted to P13.063 million; non-government organizations, P14.661 million; and other donors, P3.492 million.
Also, the DSWD has a standby fund, family food packs stockpile, and prepositioned food and non-food items amounting to P244.379 million. (PNA)