Canlaon City in Negros Oriental has cancelled its 57th Charter Day Anniversary activities as it recovers from the Kanlaon Volcano eruption and prepares for possible further volcanic activity with Alert Level 2 still up.
Canlaon City usually celebrates its Charter Day on July 1 and various activities, including cultural presentations, leading to it begin in mid-June, Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas said on Wednesday, July 19.
The mayor said he has only approved a mass in the morning and a night of worship on July 1.
They are preparing for a worst case scenario because of the unpredictability of Kanlaon and it would be embarrassing for them to be celebrating while asking for help from the national government, he said.
“We would rather celebrate Charter Day by giving cash assistance to farmers in need,” Cardenas said.
The Kanlaon Volcano eruption has affected 1,600 plus vegetable farmers and 1,300 livestock raisers, he said, but added that he could not give an estimate on the amount of the damage.
Cardenas said they decided to give assistance to farmers who were affected and not affected by the eruption.
They are aiding more than 5,000 vegetable and livestock farmers, he said, as well as 3,226 rice farmers.
Cardenas said all of their evacuees following the Kanlaon eruption have gone home.*