By CESAR JOLITO III
The Office of Civil Defense in Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) continues to set up tents for residents displaced by the ongoing unrest of Kanlaon Volcano, as many evacuees remain in schools.
OCD-NIR Director Donato Sermeno III said tents are currently being put up at the Cabacungan National High School – Masulog Extension in Negros Oriental’s Canlaon City to accommodate evacuees from Barangay Cabagna-an in Negros Occidental’s La Castellana town who are temporarily staying inside school facilities.
Sermeno said all occupied classrooms were supposed to be vacated by June 16 to allow schools to resume regular classes.
However, the Department of Education gave a short extension to allow time for relocation efforts, he added.
Based on the latest data from OCD-NIR, 259 families, or 815 individuals, are still housed in classrooms at the La Castellana National High School.
At least 372 families, or 1,147 individuals, also remain inside classrooms.
Senior citizens, pregnant women and persons with disabilities continue to take shelter at the La Castellana Elementary School.
Sermeno said 124 tents have already been installed in various covered courts in La Castellana, and four more in La Carlota City — all of which are now occupied by evacuees.
Efforts are ongoing to fully transfer affected residents into safer and more suitable temporary shelters as local officials work to ease the strain on school facilities.
Based on the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Kanlaon response report, as of June 18, a total of 19,736 families, or 70,594 individuals, have been affected by the continuous volcanic eruption.
More than 1,130 families, or 3,611 individuals, are temporarily staying in 10 evacuation centers in Negros Occidental, while 2,207 families, or 7,104 individuals, are temporarily residing with their relatives.
In response, more than P117 million worth of assistance has been distributed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Western Visayas for the affected families in seven towns and cities in the province of Negros Occidental.
This includes 94,676 family food packs worth P77.582 million, more than 19,432 non-food items worth P9.910 million, and more than P29 million in financial assistance for 5,685 beneficiaries.
In addition, local government units distributed more than P14 million in assistance, while more than P26 million in assistance was given by non-government organizations and other stakeholders./CJ, WDJ