Three months since the explosive eruption of Mt. Kanlaon, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has extended P108.866 million in humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Negros Island, the agency’s data showed yesterday.
According to the DSWD Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC), the amount mainly comprises the P211.186 million total cost of assistance provided to the affected families, including those from the local government units (LGUs), P30.392 million; non-government organizations, P33.451 million; and other partners, P38.456 million.
The December 9, 2024 volcanic eruption displaced 6,197 families, composed of 19,977 persons, of which 2,625 families, or 8,398 persons, are still taking shelter in 22 evacuation centers.
In Negros Occidental, staying in evacuation centers are those from La Castellana, the worst-hit LGU, with 1,362 families or 4,264 persons; La Carlota City, 323 families or 1,111 persons; San Carlos City, 59 families or 205 persons; and Bago City, 22 families or 77 persons.
Canlaon City in Negros Oriental hosts 859 families or 2,741 individuals.
“As of March 10, Kanlaon Volcano remains under Alert Level 3, which means that magmatic unrest could generate similar ash emissions and even short-lived explosive eruptions in the short term, which may generate life-threatening volcanic hazards,” the DROMIC report said.
It added it is still “recommended that communities within a six-kilometer radius from the summit crater remain evacuated due to the danger of pyroclastic density currents, ballistic projectiles, ashfall, rockfall and other related hazards.”
Moreover, the DROMIC report said DSWD has P2.758 billion in standby funds and relief stockpile being prepared for response to the ongoing threat of Mt. Kanlaon eruption.
Standby funds of P51.526 million include a P9.082 million quick response fund available at the DSWD Central Office; P3 million with the DSWD-Western Visayas; P1 million with the DSWD-Central Visayas; and P38.444 million in other DSWD field offices (FOs), which may support the relief needs of the families affected by the eruption through inter-FO augmentation.
The relief stockpile includes family food packs worth P1.794 billion and other food and non-food items at P912.845 million. (PNA)