La Carlota City in Negros Occidental, where several barangays were hit by ashfall during the explosive eruption of Mt. Kanlaon on April 8, has received a water tanker and filtration systems from two national government agencies.
Spring water sources, particularly in two barangays of the city, were contaminated by the ashfall, causing limited water supply in the affected communities.
On Thursday, the Office of Civil Defense turned over portable water filtration systems, as well as shelter repair and hygiene kits to La Carlota City, while Bago City also received shelter repair kits, the OCD reported.
These are assistance to affected local government units following Mt. Kanlaon’s eruption to support ongoing response efforts, it added.
During his visit to La Carlota City on April 11, OCD Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno said he discussed the needs of the affected residents with Mayor Rex Jalando-on.
Following the recent explosive eruption, about 3,000 households or 12,000 persons affected by the potable water supply disruption availed of drinking water through rationing, data from the city government showed.
On April 19, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 6 also turned over a water tanker sent by the central office to the La Carlota City Evacuation Center.
The water tanker, capable of transporting large volumes of potable water, is intended to support the supply and delivery of clean water to evacuation centers and communities facing water shortages.
The DSWD also previously turned over a mobile kitchen unit to La Carlota City.
“The equipment (is) part of the agency’s ongoing logistic initiatives aimed at enhancing its capability to provide timely and effective assistance to communities affected by calamities,” the DSWD-6 said.*PNA