By CESAR JOLITO III
The La Castellana municipal government is moving to strengthen long-term support for residents displaced by hazard risks with plans to construct a permanent evacuation center and establish a communal farm, town officials said.
Vice Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Mangilimutan said the initiatives are intended to provide safer shelter and sustainable livelihood options for families living within Kanlaon Volcano’s four-kilometer danger zone and other vulnerable sectors of the community.
The municipality exercises full jurisdiction over its 8.6-hectare area and already maintains local and regional evacuation sites.
Currently, 39 families from high-risk locations are housed in barangay-managed temporary shelters.
While they stay overnight in these facilities, many return to their farms during the day to tend crops and sustain their income.
The danger zone was designated to protect residents from potential ground shaking and landslides, with other areas of the town assessed as safe.
To improve living conditions for displaced households, the local government unit (LGU) has prioritized the construction of a dedicated evacuation center designed for longer-term stays.
In parallel, a two-hectare parcel of land will be set aside for a communal farm that beneficiaries can cultivate collectively.
According to Nicor-Mangilimutan, produce from the communal farm will help supplement food assistance provided through national government programs while also giving families a means to earn.
The 39 displaced families are confirmed beneficiaries, with the LGU also considering the inclusion of other at-risk groups, particularly senior citizens aged 60 and above who may face challenges during emergencies.
P15.6-M lot for relocation site
Earlier, the Negros Occidental provincial government donated an 8.6-hectare property in La Castellana’s Barangay Talaptap to serve as a permanent relocation site for residents displaced by Kanlaon’s eruption on December 9, 2024.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the lot, acquired by the Capitol for P15.6 million, is being turned over as a donation to the La Castellana municipal government.
“I am leaving it to the local officials on how to utilize it,” Lacson said, noting that the primary purpose of the property is to provide permanent housing for families affected by the volcano’s continued unrest — particularly those barred from returning to homes located within the permanent danger zone.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz earlier said the site’s proximity to the Talaptap barangay hall and a nearby school makes it suitable for long-term resettlement, allowing easier access to basic services for relocated families.
The donation is part of the provincial government’s ongoing efforts to support communities impacted by Kanlaon’s activity and to ensure safer, more sustainable living conditions for affected residents./CJ, WDJ