TEMPORARY HOME Families in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, displaced by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon last year call these government-provided tents home until they are allowed to return to their communities near the volcano’s danger zone. —OFFICE OF CIVIL DEFENSE-NEGROS ISLAND REGION PHOTO
BACOLOD CITY – Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro has promised to help La Castellana town in Negros Occidental find alternative funding sources to support its remaining 2,000 evacuees forced to remain in shelters for over seven months, having been displaced by the eruption of Mount Kanlaon on December 9, 2024.
This assurance was given during a pre-disaster risk assessment meeting held via Zoom on Thursday, July 17, according to Donato Sermeno III, head of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Negros Island Region.
READ: Negros Occidental to move villagers away from Kanlaon
La Castellana Mayor Añejo Nicor earlier said the municipal government has exhausted its funds for the evacuees, whom the local government has been providing with food and other basic needs since December last year.
On July 13, the local government allowed 1,850 evacuees to return to their homes located near the highway and outside the 5.2-kilometer radius from the summit crater of Kanlaon Volcano. But there are still some 2,000 residents from within the 4-kilometer permanent danger zone who cannot be allowed to return home.
While acknowledging that human activity within the 6-kilometer radius of the volcano is not advisable, Sermeno said the OCD respects the local government’s decision to send back some of the evacuees to their villages.
Kanlaon remains under Alert Level 3 (intensified unrest/magmatic unrest), which was hoisted following its eruption last December.
Sermeno said Teodoro requested data on La Castellana’s financial needs to facilitate the search for the necessary funds.
The Negros Occidental provincial government will resume its community kitchen feeding program on Monday, July 21, for the remaining 2,000 residents displaced by the ongoing unrest at Kanlaon Volcano.
The “sixth wave” feeding program will run for 30 day in nine evacuation centers, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Friday, July 18.
Seven community kitchens will be located in La Castellana, with one each in La Carlota City and Bago City, he said.
The initiative will be funded by the remaining portion of the P50 million provided by the Office of the President for disaster relief involving the Kanlaon evacuees.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said the budget for feeding the 2,000 residents for 30 days is P5.8 million. /jpv