The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) announced yesterday that the Himamaylan Tent City, which it supports, has successfully established 300 family tents.
With this, the facility is now ready to provide shelter for evacuees amid the threat from Mt. Kanlaon’s unrest.
OCD administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno, in a statement, emphasized the agency’s commitment to a whole-of-government approach in responding to the disaster.
“Under the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., and NDRRMC [National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council] chair and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., we are mobilizing all available resources to provide immediate assistance to those affected by the Kanlaon eruption. Our goal is to give them a sense of normalcy as they navigate this difficult situation,” he added.
While the tent city is prepared, the installation of essential utilities is currently underway to ensure a safe environment for families displaced by volcanic activity.
Located in Treepark, Barangay III (Poblacion), approximately 67 kilometers from Kanlaon’s summit, the tent city is designated to house evacuees from neighboring local government units should the alert level for Mount Kanlaon continue to rise.
The 300 tents are part of a larger allocation of 1,350 tents delivered to Negros Occidental from the OCD Central Office earlier this year, with support from USAID Philippines through the World Food Programme.
An additional 90 tents are reserved in case of damage.
The site has also seen the development of crucial facilities, including a water system with two tanks, a toilet with a bathroom, and functional roads for easy access.
Ongoing work includes the installation of electricity and lighting posts, with occupancy dependent on the completion of these utilities and updates from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
Following an explosive eruption on December 9, 2024, local government units were advised to evacuate a six-kilometer radius from the volcano’s summit and prepare for additional evacuations if necessary.
Currently, thousands of families are sheltered in various evacuation centers across Bago City, La Carlota City and La Castellana.
Local government units, alongside the Department of Social Welfare and Development, are coordinating efforts to manage the tent city.
Security will be provided by a joint force of local police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, ensuring a safe environment for all residents.
Beneficiaries will receive critical support services, including food, water, and access to basic utilities, alongside government assistance in education, livelihood and health. (PNA)