The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Thursday, May 15, distributed P9.881 million in cash assistance to 1,711 families affected by the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Occidental.

Each beneficiary-family was given P5,775 under the Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT), the agency’s unconditional cash support, complementing in-kind assistance, for victims of disasters and emergencies.

In La Castellana town, there were 1,362 beneficiaries; La Carlota City, 327; and Bago City, 22.

DSWD-Western Visayas Director Arwin Razo supervised the simultaneous payout, in coordination with the three local government units (LGUs) that were mainly affected following a series of explosive eruptions of Kanlaon Volcano since December last year.

In a statement, Razo said the key intervention empowers the affected population to decide their needs using available resources.

“Even as we continue to provide family food packs, the ECT is a crucial form of assistance that will help our displaced families in meeting their specific and urgent needs,” he added.

On Wednesday, May 14, the DSWD-6 also deployed a newly-acquired water tanker and treatment units for displaced families in La Carlota City, which has been experiencing a supply shortage in some areas after its spring water sources were contaminated by ashfall.

DSWD-6 Disaster Response Management Division head Erlyn Garcia said the water tanker and treatment systems are vital in ensuring access to safe drinking water for the evacuees in La Carlota City.

As of 5:00 p.m. on May 15, the 1,711 displaced families or 5,472 persons had been staying in 13 evacuation centers in the three LGUs.

Around 2,682 families or 8,616 individuals have been seeking shelter with friends and relatives.

Alert Level 3 or magmatic unrest continues to prevail over Kanlaon Volcano. (PNA)