By CESAR JOLITO III

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson assured local government units affected by Kanlaon Volcano’s continuing unrest that funds allocated for food assistance remain sufficient.

Lacson confirmed that P2.8 million was left of the P50 million in aid provided by the Office of the President to the provincial government.

He said the grant has not yet been depleted, as the Capitol will again continue to fund mobile kitchens, which provide hot meals for evacuees.

“We are making sure that we maximize the assistance by accurately identifying those who still need support,” Lacson said, noting that the province is currently finalizing the number of remaining evacuees after some residents were allowed to return home last weekend.

Approximately 1,800 residents from La Castellana town’s Barangay Cabagna-an, whose homes are located within the Kanlaon’s six-kilometer extended danger zone, were initially evacuated.

However, only those whose houses are located near the road were permitted to return.

As of now, around 1,000 individuals remain in evacuation sites located in Barangays Mansalanao, Biak na Bato and Masulog — all in La Castellana.

Others are still housed in family tents set up on the grounds of Cabacungan National High School Extension in Masulog.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development, along with local barangay officials, is currently sustaining the evacuees’ basic needs while the province works to restore its community kitchen operations./CJ, WDJ