By JEN BAYLON
Local government units (LGUs) affected by the Kanlaon Volcano eruption are asking for additional funding from the national government to feed their evacuees, the Office of Civil Defense in Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) said.
The LGUs expressed fear that their quick response funds (QRF) may be drained just for the food of evacuees alone, OCD-NIR director Donato Sermeno III said.
Sermeno said they had already endorsed the P40 million worth of financial aid requested by La Castellana town to the national government.
The cities of La Carlota and Himamaylan in Negros Occidental, as well as Negros Oriental’s Canlaon City, also requested funds for the maintenance of the “tent city” for internally displaced people (IDPs).
Sermeno said concerned LGUs may start using their respective QRF to feed IDPs, who have been displaced by the Kanlaon eruption since December 9 last year.
He added that the OCD has yet to receive their QRF from the national government.
The “hot meals” provided by the Negros Occidental provincial government for the evacuees ended on March 7.
Sermeno pointed out that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has enough supply of family food packs for IDPs.
A report from DSWD’s Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center said the department has P2.758 billion in standby funds and a relief stockpile being prepared in response to the ongoing threat of the Kanlaon eruption.
Standby funds of P51.526 million include a P9.082 million QRF 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.
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 hosts 859 families or 2,741 individuals.
Sermeno said he cannot tell for how long IDPs will stay inside or outside of evacuation centers.
In December last year, the Office of the President gave P30 million each to the Canlaon City government and the Negros Oriental provincial government to address the basic needs of IDPs.
Negros Occidental also received P50 million in grants to be used for food of the evacuees.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the fund allocation is in response to requests from LGUs impacted by the Kanlaon’s eruption.
Of the P50 million fund, P14 million will be designated for establishing a permanent evacuation site in La Castellana, while P1.3 million is allocated for improvements at the evacuation site in Bago City.
The remaining P19 million will be reserved for the next phase of the province’s feeding program for IDPs.
In addition to hot meals, the provincial government plans to distribute rice to IDPs as part of a comprehensive feeding initiative previously managed by local government units, including La Castellana.
With Kanlaon Volcano still at Alert Level 3, indicating magmatic unrest, the urgency for adequate funding and resources remains high to ensure the well-being of those affected./ With reports from PNA / JB, WDJ