The Negros Occidental provincial government is preparing the second round of food assistance for the evacuees of Kanlaon Volcano.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said the Capitol is waiting for Malacañang to sign its deed of donation for the P50 million in financial assistance for those affected by Kanlaon’s explosive eruption.
Local government officials and affected communities near Kanlaon are left to question why the aid has yet to reach those who need it most, amid a backdrop of mounting frustration and confusion.
Earlier, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said procedural issues caused the delay in the approval of a P50 million grant from the Office of the President for disaster response.
The deed of donation, which was submitted to Malacañang, was returned unsigned due to missing requirements.
Lacson assured that these requirements are being addressed promptly.
“We will have to present the actual resolution. We’re just complying with that,” he said.
The governor expressed optimism that the province will soon resolve these concerns and access the much-needed funds.
Meanwhile, Diaz said 6,000 evacuees will be fed from community kitchens operated by the provincial government in various evacuation centers.
He said the menu will include a “one meat a day” meal so that the evacuees will never grow tired of the food served to them at the evacuation centers.
Earlier this month, the provincial government provided food for remaining residents staying in the evacuation facilities in the cities of La Carlota and Bago, as well as La Castellana town since December 2024.
The Capitol also covered the food of the provincial government personnel assigned to the evacuation sites.
The province’s community kitchen continues to operate in evacuation centers but is maintained by the local government units.
Meanwhile, the Disaster Response Management Office of the Department of Social Services and Welfare reported that as of Thursday, January 30, there are 12,286 families, composed of 47,255 individuals, who have been affected by the eruption in 27 barangays in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental./WDJ