The La Carlota City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Negros Occidental has recommended the decampment of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from schools used as evacuation centers to enable regular classes to resume.
The recommendation was made in response to the growing clamor from the education sector, parents and students to normalize school operations, the CDRRMC said in a Facebook post.
During a meeting on Tuesday, June 10, the CDRRMC recommended to Mayor Rex R. Jalando-on that IDPs from areas outside the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) be allowed to return home by June 13.
This move will enable schools currently serving as evacuation centers to resume full in-person classes by June 16, addressing the prolonged disruption in education, the CDRRMC said.
For nearly six months, La Carlota South Elementary School II, La Carlota North Elementary School, and La Carlota City College-Cubay Campus — have been accommodating IDPs, limiting face-to-face classes to just two days a week, it said.
The shift back to regular school operations will benefit both traditional learners and IDP students, who can now reintegrate into formal schooling.
About 257 families (890 individuals) displaced from Sitios Bais, Batacon, and Labinsawan in Barangay Yubo, along with Sitios Nailab and Tinin-awan in Barangay Ara-al, will soon return home.
Meanwhile, 62 families (226 individuals) from Sitio Guintubdan, Barangay Ara-al — which is within the 6-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) — will be relocated to the City Evacuation Center to ensure their continued safety, the CDRRMC said.
This transition will allow schools currently serving as evacuation centers to fully resume classes, addressing the prolonged disruption in education while prioritizing the welfare of all affected residents.
The city government remains committed to supporting both returning families and those in need of continued shelter, ensuring a balanced and compassionate approach to recovery, the CDRRMC said.
Jalando-on assures the public that all measures are being taken to facilitate a smooth transition for both returning families and students.*