By CESAR JOLITO III

With more than 3,000 residents still living inside evacuation centers since the December 2024 unrest of Kanlaon Volcano, La Castellana Mayor Añejo Nicor is sounding the alarm over the town’s dwindling resources and calling on the national government to act swiftly.

Nicor confirmed that the municipality’s response funds have been exhausted after months of sustaining 3,293 evacuees who remain displaced.

While President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. approved a P48.5 million aid package for La Castellana in May, the Department of Budget and Management has yet to release the funds.

“We have submitted all required documents twice, but we have not received any reply,” Nicor said.

The additional assistance aims to support the affected communities in recovery and rehabilitation efforts following the volcanic eruption, which caused significant displacement and damage across several barangays.

Earlier, the Office of Civil Defense said an additional P203 million worth of financial assistance in response to Kanlaon’s continuing unrest will go directly to the affected local government units in Negros Island after President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. approved the funds.

Currently, the Department of Social Welfare and Development continues to provide food assistance, while the provincial government, led by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz, had also been providing meals until support was paused on July 3.

Nicor expressed gratitude to provincial leaders and said assistance may resume soon.

Meanwhile, plans are moving forward to construct permanent relocation sites in Barangays Talaptap and Robles for the long-term resettlement of affected families, aiming to give displaced residents some stability after more than half a year in temporary shelters./CJ, WDJ